Awareness of Language use in Conceptualization: A Study of Children’s Understanding of Movement and Gravity

Abstract

In this article the role of children's awareness of the function of language use is examined in an empirical, qualitative investigation. Forty children of six and 10 years old were asked to make sense of a science problem in special dialogue setting where they were encouraged to reflect on their own language use. The article concerns the interplay between language use and meaning-making. Dialogue excerpts where the children expressed awareness of their own language and understanding were selected, and qualities of awareness were delimited in these excerpts and grouped in four descriptive categories. A widened definition of language awareness is proposed and discussed, in which awareness of the close relationship between language use and meaning-making is taken into consideration.