3V119201 Issues in learning graphical language: Logo logon messages (/28/81)

Peggy has more or less read “BY” — the common word in her story books. Her reading it shows little discrimination but for length. Today, Peggy began reading (in my presence, for the first time) the Logo Logon messages “Setting up” and “Welcome to Logo.” When they appeared on the screen, I asked if she could read them and she said yes, and she did so in something of a sing-song tone. Does she have it down right ? Of course not. She is associating an interpretation of a graphical string (which interpretation she has been told) with that string. It is striking that her reading in this computer context is taking on some of the character of her first introduction to oral language. That is, by accident she is being exposed to supra-logical strings which she gives an idiomatic meaning to. The phrases communicate information to her about the state of loading (which interests her much).

She also repeats what she has been told about other alpha strings “You have to wait till the letters come…” and “You wait until it says ‘Done, Thank you for waiting.'” This is during the process of loading programs into memory from cassette.

This all seems to be a consequence of wanting to “do it herself;” is it imitation of grown ups or is it the desire for control and understanding ?

Print Friendly, PDF & Email