SYNTACTIC AND SEMANTIC SPECIFICS OF THE USE OF PASSIVE VOICE IN UTTERANCES OF PRESCHOOL CHIDREN (3 – 6)

Abstract

The article regards the relationship between syntax and semantics in the acquisition of Bulgarian as a first language. The empirical data stem from the spontaneous speech of four monolingual Bulgarian children in preschool age (3 – 6). Some researchers point out that semantics have a leading role in language development. In order to be able to position a word =in the sentence structure, children use its function in the utterance to navigate its place following the standard word-order model Subject – Verb – Object (SVO). A change in the word order might cause confusion and delayed acquisition of the OVS word-order model, which is typical of passive sentences. The current research has the objective to reveal whether Bulgarian preschool children can adequately use (and understand) passive constructions and to what degree these constructions deviate from standard language norms.