The expression of temporal relations in Thai children's narratives

The acquisition of temporal relations in the narratives of Thai children (aged4 years, 6 years and 9 years) and of adults as control was investigated. Narrativeswere elicited using the ‘frog story’. Results revealed common and languagespecific developmental patterns: (1) a developmental progression from relating events at a local to a more global level; (2) use of fewer forms that have abroader range of functions in the younger children; (3) acquisition of leastrestricted forms prior to more restricted forms; (4) qualified support for theacquisition of sequentiality prior to simultaneity. In the youngest childrenthere was a greater reliance on usage of grammatical aspect; subsequently, aschildren acquired the ability to use bi-referential reference, temporal connectives played a more significant role. Eventually mature narrators are able to usea combination of explicit and implicit linguistic devices