A study at the UJI reveals that pragmatic awareness in children when learning a language is independent of their level of knowledge of this language



[Valencià](/upo/rest/publicacion/idioma/ca?urlRedirect=https://www.uji.es/com/noticies/2014/02/1q/multilinguisme-precoc/&url=/com/noticies/2014/02/1q/multilinguisme-precoc/&urlRedirect=https://www.uji.es/com/noticies/2014/02/1q/multilinguisme-precoc/ "Cambiar idioma a català")
[Español](/upo/rest/publicacion/idioma/es?urlRedirect=https://www.uji.es/com/noticies/2014/02/1q/multilinguisme-precoc/&url=/com/noticies/2014/02/1q/multilinguisme-precoc/&urlRedirect=https://www.uji.es/com/noticies/2014/02/1q/multilinguisme-precoc/ "Cambiar idioma a español")
[English](#0)

Mobile menu

* [Profile](#0)
  + [Future students](/perfils/futurs/)
  + [UJI students](/perfils/estudiantat/uji/)
  + [PDI-PI](/perfils/pdipas/base/pdi/)
  + [PTGAS](/perfils/pdipas/base/pas/)
  + [AlumniSAUJI](/serveis/alumnisauji/)
  + [Companies and institutions](/perfils/empresa/)
* [Tools](#0)
  + [Virtual Classroom](https://aulavirtual.uji.es/)
  + [CAU](https://cau.uji.es/)
  + [Directory](//www.uji.es/institucional/contacta/)
  + [Gmail](http://gmail.uji.es/)
  + [Intranet (IGLU)](//www.uji.es/upo/rest/iglu/)
  + [Virtual Office](/seu/)
  + [Academic information (SIA)](http://sia.uji.es/)
  + [Others](//www.uji.es/serveis/scp/eines/)
* [Valencià](/upo/rest/publicacion/idioma/ca?urlRedirect=https://www.uji.es/com/noticies/2014/02/1q/multilinguisme-precoc/&url=/com/noticies/2014/02/1q/multilinguisme-precoc/&urlRedirect=https://www.uji.es/com/noticies/2014/02/1q/multilinguisme-precoc/ "Cambiar idioma a català")
  [Español](/upo/rest/publicacion/idioma/es?urlRedirect=https://www.uji.es/com/noticies/2014/02/1q/multilinguisme-precoc/&url=/com/noticies/2014/02/1q/multilinguisme-precoc/&urlRedirect=https://www.uji.es/com/noticies/2014/02/1q/multilinguisme-precoc/ "Cambiar idioma a español")
  [English](#0)

[# Universitat Jaume I](/)

* [# Universitat Jaume I](/)
* [Profile](#0)
  + [Future students](/perfils/futurs/)
  + [UJI students](/perfils/estudiantat/uji/)
  + [PDI-PI](/perfils/pdipas/base/pdi/)
  + [PTGAS](/perfils/pdipas/base/pas/)
  + [AlumniSAUJI](/serveis/alumnisauji/)
  + [Companies and institutions](/perfils/empresa/)
* [Tools](#0)
  + [Virtual Classroom](https://aulavirtual.uji.es/)
  + [CAU](https://cau.uji.es/)
  + [Directory](//www.uji.es/institucional/contacta/)
  + [Gmail](http://gmail.uji.es/)
  + [Intranet (IGLU)](//www.uji.es/upo/rest/iglu/)
  + [Virtual Office](/seu/)
  + [Academic information (SIA)](http://sia.uji.es/)
  + [Others](//www.uji.es/serveis/scp/eines/)
* [Studies](/mapa/estudis/)
  + [Studies](/mapa/estudis/)
  + [Bachelor’s degrees](/estudis/)
  + [University master’s degrees](/estudis/?p_estudio=m)
  + [Doctoral studies](/estudis/oferta/doctorat/)
  + [Lifelong learning](/estudis/base/formacio-permanent/)
* [Research and innovation](/investigacio/)
  + [Research and innovation](/investigacio/)
  + [Research portal](/investigacio/)
  + [Innovation](/innovacio/)
  + [Doctoral studies](/centres/escola-doctorat/)
  + [HRS4R](/investigacio/hrs4r/)
* [International](/internacional/)
  + [International](/internacional/)
  + [International Students](/internacional/base/estudiantat/estudiantado-internacional/)
  + [Exchange Programmes](/serveis/ori/base/programes-intercanvi/)
  + [Study Abroad](/internacional/base/study-abroad/)
* [UJI](/mapa/uji/)
  + [UJI](/mapa/uji/)
  + [Get to know the UJI](/mapa/uji/coneix-uji/)
  + [Structure and organisation](/institucional/estructura/)
  + [Strategy and quality](/institucional/estrategia/)
  + [Transparency](/transparencia/)
  + [Public integrity](/transparencia/liniaetica/)
  + [News](/actualitat/)
  + [Contact the UJI](/institucional/contacta/)
* [University life](/mapa/vida-universitaria/)
  + [University life](/mapa/serveis/)
  + [Library](/serveis/cd/)
  + [Campus](/mapa/uji/coneix-uji/campus/)
  + [Culture](/cultura/)
  + [Sports](/esports/)
  + [InfoCampus](/serveis/infocampus/)

[UJI](/)
[News](/com/sumari/noticies/)

## A study at the UJI reveals that pragmatic awareness in children when learning a language is independent of their level of knowledge of this language

06/02/2014 |
SCP

Compartir

Compartir

×

Linkedin

BlueSky

Facebook

Mastodon

Whatsapp

Gmail

Imprimir

* [![Laura Portolés Falomir multilinguisme-precoc laura_portoles](/com/noticies/2014/02/1q/multilinguisme-precoc/laura_portoles.jpg)](#)

Children are able to recognize the pragmatically appropriate requests in three languages, thanks to the high degree of pragmatic awareness and regardless of their knowledge of these languages, as is clear from the research conducted by Laura Portolés Falomir, assistant professor at the Universitat Jaume I in Castelló, in her doctoral thesis «Multilingüisme precoç: anàlisi de la consciència pragmàtica i actituds lingüístiques en infants consecutius multilingües».

The study sample was composed of 402 learners with English as a third language in a bilingual education system; more specifically, in 10 different schools in the province of Castelló. The analysis considered two variables: the age factor, with groups of 4-5 and 8-9 years old students, and the linguistic model, with students who followed either a track in Catalan or in Spanish.

Findings have shown the high degree of pragmatic awareness of students in all languages, ​​and especially in the case of English in 4 and 5 years old children. The analysis has served to refute some of the previous research on this topic that considered that the degree of pragmatics was determined by the level of language proficiency in a language, and that pragmatic consciousness is not acquired until the age of 7. It has also served to demonstrate that the multilingual background of the participants and their experience as learners of Catalan and Spanish gives them a number of advantages when it comes to acquiring a third language. The researcher emphasized that the skills and competencies of multilingual children have provided evidence of the multilingual competence stated by Herdina and Jessner (2002).

Regarding language attitudes, the study found that, in general, there are more favourable attitudes towards Spanish, followed by Catalan, and English in the last place. Preschool students show a preference for the minority language and the foreign language, while primary education students preferred the majority language. The results show that the social status of a language can influence language attitudes of the participants and that “instruction through the minority language and the foreign language is a necessary condition to promote multilingual development”, as stated by Laura Portolés.

Results have also confirmed that students following the educational programme in Catalan have made ​​the best test of pragmatic understanding that those enrolled in the programme that has Spanish as predominant language, and language attitudes are more favourable in the Catalan model than in the Spanish model. Finally, the study investigated the relationship between language attitudes and pragmatic consciousness, because the affective factor is critical in the development of communication. It has confirmed that the multilingual acquisition is a dynamic process where several variables are interrelated.

The thesis developed by Laura Portolés and directed by professor Pilar Safont opens new perspectives for early multilingualism from a multilingual and dynamic perspective since it examines the interaction of several factors, such as pragmatic skills and affective factors, in the multilingual development at an early age, as proposed by Jessner and Herdina in their dynamic model of multilingualism (DMM) earlier this decade.

Information provided by:
[Communication and Publications Service](/serveis/scp/)

News

[Agenda](/com/sumari/agenda/)
[Government meeting agenda](/transparencia/uji/organs/collegiats/agenda/)
[News](/com/sumari/noticies/)
[Photo news](/com/fotonoticies/actual/)
[Government bodies news](/com/acords/)
[Vox UJI](/com/voxuji/)
[Vox UJI Ràdio](http://www.radio.uji.es/)
[Video server](http://www.svideo.uji.es)
[CienciaUJI](/com/investigacio/cienciauji/)
[Ciència UJI TV](/com/investigacio/arxiu/ciencia-uji-tv/)



Useful links

[University card](http://www.carnet.uji.es/)

[Multimedia catalogue](http://jecom.uji.es/)

[University press](/serveis/scp/publ/)

[Web map](//www.uji.es/mapa/)

[Educational model](//www.uji.es/institucional/estrategia/modeleducatiu/)

[Language Observatory](/serveis/ol/)

[Open Knowledge Portal](/serveis/cd/bib/pco/)

[UJI shop](http://www.tenda.uji.es/)

[Security and privacy center](https://www.uji.es/organs/ouag/sg/docs/politiques/gen/)
|
[Website legal notice](https://www.uji.es/comu/avislegal/avislegalicondicions/)
|
[Accessibility policy](https://www.uji.es/serveis/ura/base/accessibilitat/)

Information and queries:
[UJI suggestion box](/comu/forms/bustia)

Universitat Jaume I CIF: Q-6250003-H Av. Vicent Sos Baynat, s/n 12071
Castellón de la Plana,
España

Tel.: +34 964 72 80 00