DEVELOPMENT IN THE USE OF PROPER NAMES

Abstract

The proper names used by 436 children in 21,800 remarks were recorded under a standardized situation2 and were found to show certain well defined age differences. Subjects were selected at three discrete age levels, 5 1/2, 6 1/2, and 9 1/2 years, on a percentage basis that was representative of the MinneapolisSt. Paul population, the father's occupation being the criterion. The grade location of subjects was for the most part kindergarten, first grade, and fourth grade. Individual interviews during school hours lasted in each case until 50 remarks were recorded. With two exceptions, the numerical importance of proper names in children's language proved to be slight. The subjects were given an opportunity to play with a collection of Wild West toys. Probably because of this fact the word Indian occurred, 1,656 times, and ranked fifteenth in the list of all words used. Christmas was noted 86 times. These two words, as well as other names of months, days, and holidays; words describing nationality, and names of deity, were listed in the regular manner, and the category of proper names was reserved for names of specific persons and places. Aside from the terms Indian and Christmas, names in the above categories were of little importance in the final tabulations, since only 32 expressions were involved. The inclusion of Indian and Christmas, however, would have given so distorted a picture that the decision to limit the category to persons and places seems a wise one. The number of proper names used per child was slightly less at 9 1/2 years than at the earlier levels, both absolutely and when related to the total words used per child, as is shown in Table I.