2019 Volume 30 Issue 1 Pages 44-56
The study investigated young children who use emotional utterances of “omoshiroi (interest)” and “tanoshii (joy),” in the context of play interactions with peers to whom they are emotionally close. Two cohorts of three- to five-year-olds were observed in kindergarten over a period of three years (Time 1 to Time 5). We focused on the pragmatic functions of the utterances including such utterances in interactions in terms of how it contributes to their relationships. The results indicated that children expanded and developed relationships by sharing their interests (Time 1), used more persuasive and effective methods of appealing to peers (Time 2), adjusted their relationships according to their own feelings and those of others (Time 3), shared emotional experiences from the past (Time 4), and shared the same emotional experiences and realized the play according to their future expectations (Time5) in peer play communication, using the abovementioned utterances. The results highlight the significance of the utterances “omoshiroi (interest)” and “tanoshii (joy)” in the development of social and emotional competence in close peer relationships.
