Multi modal child-to-child interaction

Paper presentation by Tine Basse Fisker

The Danish University of Education

Mik Carl Kim

Mental space in child language. 60 hours of video recordings in Danish day care centres Multi modal analysis

All-autistic interaction = interaction between two or more children with autism

Data Video taped interaction between three

boys with autism Age: 5-6 Location: day care centre for children with

autism (Denmark) Activity: playing with LEGO® bricks at a

table Others present: researcher with camera

and care taker

Mik Carl Kim

Call-response songs

Two or more singers Question – answer sequences

Who let the dogs out? (hoo like dooz ej) Otto er et næsehorn (Otto is a rhino)

Mik Carl Kim

Question

Could interaction be running along different lines than the ones where we normally grasp interaction and meaning?

Communicative levels

Pragmatic (”real” interaction) Semantic Grammatical Phonetical

Communicative modes Non-verbal language

Body position Body movement Proxemics Head movement Gesture Facial expression Gaze

Verbal language Words Tone of voice Pauses Turn-taking Rhythm / singing Contextual

appropriateness / sense of relevance

Carl’s song: A call-and-response

song:A. Otto er et næsehorn B. Ja, ja, ja A. Otto er en flæskesteg B. Nej, nej, nej A. Otto er en …..B. Nej, nej, nej

English version of the song: A. Otto is a rhino B. Yes, yes, yes A. Otto is a beef steak B. No, no, no A. Otto is a …… B. No, no, no

”Otto is a rhino” is the only line which should elicit a Yes-response, everything else the singer may invent should elicit No.

Mik, Carl and Kim –verbal mode

2.08 C: (singing) [and Otto] is a rhino, yes yes yes Otto is a rhino yes yes

2.16 K: we’re not rhinos (.) [YOU a rhino]

2.20 M: (singing) [Carl] is an arsehole

2.22 CT: OOPS Mik2.24 C: (singing) no yes yes yes

and

Increased modal density 1Mik Carl Kim

Proxemics Gesture Gaze Words Pause Tone of voice Song/rythm

Participant configuration, teasing/singing

Carl

Mik Kim

Mik: (singing) [Carl] er et numsehull (Carl is an arsehole.)

Increased modal density 2Mik Carl Kim

Gaze Facial

expression Head

movement

Increased modal density 3Mik Carl Kim

Facial expression

Gaze Song / rhythm Posture

Participant configuration, responding

Carl

Mik Kim

Carl responding to song

Kim responding to words

Conclusion Mik interacts with two other participants

simultaneously Both of them respond to one part of his

communicative act, decoding intention These children are co-constructing

interaction! Further perspectives for understanding

complex interaction?