A Descriptive Study of the Bilingual Language Development of Aboriginal Children in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia

Abstract

A study of the early language development of Aboriginal children in the Eastern Goldfields of Western Australia was conducted over an 18 month period. The young Aboriginal children studied were found to have a linguistically rich and complex environment, and demonstrated well developed language learning strategies. The children's linguistic code matched all the functions documented in English speaking children, however, significant differences were apparent in the use of language and in the sequence of language development. These differences appeared to be related to culturally-defined methods of child rearing and the socio-linguistic rule system established within the community.