Technonanny blog 61Imaginative play
One of Halliday’s seven functions suggested for child language is the
imaginativefunction: telling stories and jokes, creating imaginary worlds, etc.
Comment on the children’s use of language for this function.
CONTEXT: Louise’s (aged 5.1) American cousin Lanna (5.10) has come for a short visit. They haven’t met for a year. [See transcripts of Lanna and Lu playing witches the previous year.]
Technonanny has taken the two girls to a playground in their grandmother’s village. There are all sorts of adventure playground equipment – a ‘zip’ swing, a bridge and climbing frames, as well as ‘baby’ swings. T has put the voice recorder in Louise’s pocket. This is the first of several hours’ play.
Rough transcript
T:we could play the monster game or troll game I might get pictures of you
Lu:can’t we just play
T:or just play yeah
[break to cut muffled noises]
Lu:can I have a go at that zip thing so I can do it even gooder
T:what rip thing sure let me put my things …
[]
Lu:don’t know about that bu-ut… if I was 6 I could be older than my friend
Lanna:they won’t come in the baby swing
Lu:hey watch do you want me to to push you (laughs) you’re like my kid
(baby sound)
Lu:OK let’s do this
Lanna:let’s do this ??
[]
Lu:Hey let’s play monsters and you’re the monster
T:I’m not sure if I want to be a monster
Lanna:I’m just ? real ?? head in
Lu:could somebody get me out
mm hmm
Lanna:?? jump
T:Hurray
Lanna:?? my baby
Lu:you need to be the monster under the bridge
T:well I might have to collect all my stuff in a minute
[]
Lu:I’m gonna be Dora and you’re Lisa
Lanna?? older ought to be but ?? wasn’t born yet (6) and I kept it a secret the troll
Lu:gram!
Lanna:I have a baby
T:??
Lanna: shall I eat try and eat it no no no mamma?? trickin em wow that’s a long way
Lu:I can do it
Lanna:well what if monster gets my baby ?? troll
Lu:well what if I carry it and ?? do it at the same time
Lanna: ?? stay on ??
[]
Lanna:why do you have a phone in your pocket why do you have this in your pocket
Lu:my gran said I need it
Lanna:why may I see it what is it for
Lu:it’s to film you and me () you’re not getting your stuff you’re phoning somebody
Lanna:pretend baby ?? pretend a troll grabbed her ??
Lu:no how about pretend an invisible troll got me you go under the bridge
T:I don’t want to go under the bridge …
Lanna:Dora watch out a troll’s under there an invisible troll ( 2) pretend he got you
LU:no pretend I was too fast
Lanna:yeah me too
Lu:pretend I …
Lanna:Hi Dora
Lu:come on get under the bridge
Lanna:OK baby wants to ?? baby school
Lu:but it’s too low (6) Lisa what if she just went (3) come on there it is
(bridge squeaking ?sounds)
Lu:come on get under the bridge
T:where is Lanna
Lu:she’s just dropping baby at her baby school (12) well can’t you just play the real game
Lanna:OK
Lu:get under the bridge (5) you need to say ( ) no you don’t put your hands I’m not
sposed to see you (4) I’m not sposed to hear you or see you (6) maybe it’s the
other way
Lanna:yeah (11) I’m going over there see my baby
Lu:OK (11)
Lu:and that troll is a meany baby
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