Analysing Child Language Data

The ability to analyse child language data — typically transcripts of children's speech or samples of children's writing — is a core skill for AQA A-Level English Language. This lesson provides a systematic approach to analysing CLA data, with guidance on how to identify key features, link them to theories, and write effective analytical responses in examinations.

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How CLA Data Appears in Exams

In the AQA A-Level English Language exam (Paper 1, Section A: Language, the Individual and Society), you may encounter:

• Transcripts of children's speech — conversations between a child and a caregiver, or between children
• Samples of children's writing — handwritten or typed texts produced by children at various stages of development
• A combination — for example, a transcript alongside a piece of writing from the same child or from children of different ages

The question will typically ask you to analyse the data, identifying features of the child's language and explaining what they reveal about the child's linguistic development. You will be expected to: