The Development of Coherence in Narratives: Causal Relations

Abstract

This study explored Mandarin-speaking children's ability in maintaining narrative coherence. Thirty Mandarin-speaking five-year-olds, 30 nine-year-olds and 30 adults participated. The narrative data were elicited using Frog, Where are You? Narrative coherence was assessed in terms of causal networks. The results displayed children's developmental progress in achieving narrative coherence by establishing causal relations between narrative events. Results were considered in relation to discourse tendency and capacities for working memory. Narrators' differences in communicative competence and cognitive preferences were also discussed.