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This study explores formal aspects and functions of 420 novel noun-noun (NN) compounds in diary data from three Swedish children (1;9–6;11). With regard to form, the data show that the children’s compounds respect target head order, allow for a small amount of internal inflection, and, in more than half of the cases where a liaison form is required, are properly formed. Most of the compounds concatenate two nouns (without the presence of liaison forms), as is the general case for Swedish NN compounds. With regard to function, the data permit us to distinguish three main functions of the coinages: I. Novel compound instead of established term, II. Novel compound for novel category, and III. Novel compound for specific entity. Type I involves attempts to target conventional compounds by relying either on perceptual or functional features or on recalled semantic, phonological, and/or morphological cues. Type II is innovative compounding par excellence: detailed discriminations and fantasy concepts are named. Type III divides into anaphoric and deictic uses as well as what we call appropriation, i.e. naming a specific entity. Types II and III are functions displayed by novel compounds in general. In conclusion, the three children seem to master the central facets of NN compounds, formally and functionally. Furthermore, compound production can constitute a simple and efficient means for young children to maximize and build more structure into their lexicon.

This study addresses one aspect of conceptual development, viz. categorization, in connection with children’s compounding. It is based on diary data of 392 non-established NN compounds, spontaneously produced between age 1–6 by three Swedish children. The aim is to investigate in what domains their compounds, or conceptual combinations, are situated, and to analyse them with focus on categorization. We show that children use familiar items in compounding: more than one third of the N1s and N2s belong to the same morphological family. Taxonomically, the domains of food, clothes, animals and vehicles predominate among the compounds. The two major scripts are Eating and Getting dressed. Our data permits us to trace other categorization types as well, such as thematic, evaluative and ad hoc. Compounds relying on perceptual features, mainly shape and prints, do occur, notwithstanding that general background knowledge and abstract representations intervene. Tendencies to cross-classify entities are shown. Moreover, the children tend to subcategorize at a more detailed level than adults do, which might suggest that they have fewer, but more specified, categories in their so far limited lexicon. In conclusion, subcategorization by compounding can be seen as a powerful means for children to develop their conceptual system.

This study examines the semantics of NN compounds produced by Swedish children. Three questions are addressed: What is the head’s status in the children’s compounds? What semantic relations are found within the compounds? What is the frequency of these relations, in total and per child? The data contains 387 spontaneously produced novel NN compounds from three monolingual Swedish children, collected longitudinally along with contextual information. The study shows that all children manage right-hand head position. It suggests that around 15 semantic relations, based on previous lists proposed by e.g. Jackendoff (2009; 2016), can account for almost all of the children’s compounds. Some relations are however more frequent than others. There seem to be individual preferences for particular semantic relations. Yet, two tendencies appear: (i) in all children, some relations are frequent (e.g. Purpose, Composition, Location) others rare; (ii) almost all relations are used by all children. In conclusion, although the number of compounds produced by each child is limited, a range of relations is attested. In relation to overall cognitive development, some compounds provide evidence that children indeed make further distinctions from adult speakers, and that they have understanding of the semantic content of their coinages. 

A key reason for using asynchronous computer conferencing in instruction is its potential for supporting collaborative learning. However, few studies have examined collaboration in computer conferencing. This study examined collaboration in six peer review groups within an asynchronous computer conferencing. Eighteen tertiary students participated in the study. Content analyses of discussion protocols were performed in terms of participation, interaction, and social presence.

The results indicate that collaboration does not occur automatically in asynchronous computer conference. Collaboration requires participation because no collaboration occurred in the two groups with low student participation; however, participation does not lead to collaboration, evidenced by student postings receiving no peer responses. Collaboration requires interaction but does not end with interaction, substantiated by different levels of collaboration across different interactional patterns. Social presence helps to realise collaboration through establishing a warm and collegial learning community to encourage participate and interaction, exemplified by the contrast of the group with the highest level of social presence and the group with the lowest level of social presence. A model of understanding and assessing collaboration in online learning is recommended, consisting of participation, interaction and social presence.

Sedan 1963 har det vid olika universitet i Sverige och Finland regelbundet anordnats sammankomster för svenskans beskrivning. Vid dessa har forskningsresultat som rör svenska språkets uppbyggnad och användning presenterats och diskuterats.

Den trettioförsta sammankomsten ägde rum i Umeå den 20-21 maj 201. Konferensens tema var "Perspektiv på skrivande", vilket belystes i plenarföredragen samt i de workshoppar som hölls i samband med konferensen. De olika sektionsföredragen berörde en bredd av ämnen, som samtalsanalys, genreanalys, språkkontaktfenomen och svenskämnet i högskolan. I denna volym publiceras två av plenarföredragen och 29 av sektionsföredragen.

Som värd för konferensen stod Institutionen för språkstudier vid Umeå universitet.