Functions of children's “Why” Questions

What is it about?

This study focuses on children’s speech and, more particularly, analyzes the functions of children’s “why” questions asked during family conversations at home. The results show the presence of two fundamental functions of children’s “why” questions: argumentative and explanatory. In addition, the cases observed highlight the specific use of children's “why” questions as a way to request the burden of proof by assuming a waiting position before accepting or putting in doubt the parental prescriptions.

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