Abstract
ABSTRACTAn analysis was undertaken to determine the grammatical and semantic means by which children achieve textual coherence, in narratives in particular and discourse in general. Twenty-one stories from twelve children aged two to five were analysed, with particular attention given to noun phrases (NPs) which were introduced and reiterated at least once in subsequent story clauses. In recognition of the agent-oriented nature of narrative and its sense of the succession of events, children introduced and reiterated primarily + animate NPs in their stories, expressing them predominantly as agents. With respect to discourse coherence in general, most reiterated NPs appeared in subject position both with introduction and subsequent mention, suggesting they were elements of focus. The given-new distinction was well preserved, too. Though at age five stories became considerably longer and denser with reiterated NPs, features of textual coherence held for all the age groups considered.
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