Coding grammatical errors in language samples

[Brian Richards]

Re Jay Mclelland's example of "your welcome", I wonder whether with such a
formulaic expression speakers and writers really are always aware of the
base form.

One phenomenon that has always puzzled me in children's writing, including
older teenagers is using 'of' instead of 'have/ve' after modals: 'It must of
been...', 'they might of done...' Any thoughts?

Brian

*************************************
Brian Richards
Professor of Education
The University of Reading
School of Education
Bulmershe Court
Earley, Reading, RG6 1HY, UK
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----- Original Message -----
From: "Beverly Flanigan" <flanigan at ohiou.edu>
To: "Jay McClelland" <jlm at cnbc.cmu.edu>
Cc: <info-childes at mail.talkbank.org>
Sent: Wednesday, September 04, 2002 11:31 PM
Subject: Re: Coding grammatical errors in language samples


> Strictly an orthographic error.  The writer knows perfectly well what the
> base forms are.  It drives me crazy, but it's not a linguistic error, any
> more than written its=it's=its' is.
>
> At 04:52 PM 9/4/2002 -0400, you wrote:
>
> >I couldn't resist passing this bit of email I just received
> >on to the info-childes list in the context of the present
> >discussion:  In reply to an email of thanks,  I received
> >this reply:
> >
> > > Your welcome!
> >
> >How do we think about this kind of 'error'?
> >
> >   -- Jay McClelland
>
>
>