Children’s Reformulated Requests: A Developmental Study of Moroccan Preschoolers’ Pragmatic Competence

Abstract

This investigation explores the reformulation strategies utilized by Moroccan preschoolers when their initial requests fail to accomplish their intended perlocutionary outcomes. Through longitudinal examination of five female participants aged 4-6 years, we analyzed how children adapt their requests following non-compliance, investigating patterns of repetition, mitigation, and intensification. Data gathered across 34 months via naturalistic observation demonstrated that 81.8% of reformulated requests involved rephrasing rather than mere repetition. Children exhibited sophisticated recognition of social variables, modifying their reformulation approaches according to addressee characteristics and request categories. These findings enhance our comprehension of pragmatic development and cross-cultural diversity in children’s communicative competence.