The evaluation of 4-6 year-old Persian-speaking children's ability to comprehend and express wh-questions

Studies have shown that most children before age 4 are able to comprehend and express wh-question. In the Persian language، a case study has confirmed these results. The aim of this study is to evaluate the ability of 4-6 year olds to comprehend and express wh-question.

Seventy two 4-6 year-old Persian-speaking children were selected randomly. Wh-words consist of: what، where، who، why، and when. In the part of comprehension subjects answered questions about two pictures، and in the part of expression they asked questions elicited by a speaking puppet about four pictures. Descriptive analysis and student''s t-test were used for data analysis.

In comprehension 4-6 year-old children gained the complete score (2) with SD=0 in all wh-words. However، 4-5 year old children gained the score of 1. 89 with SD of 0. 32 for the word when. In expression، independent t-test showed the maximum score of 3. 52 with SD of 0. 84 related to questions with who. 5-6 and 4-5 year old subjects had significant differences in questions with what (p=0. 005)، where (p=0. 003)، who (p=0. 012)، and when (p<0. 001). Most errors were expressed in question with when.

Subjects of this study had the ability to comprehend and express wh-words. Comprehension of wh-words is easy for 4-6 year-old children; they are able to use them in questions، but have some application errors.