SYLLABIC STAGE OF ENGLISH-SPEAKING PRESCHOOLERS

This study explored the kind of hypotheses English speaking children b etween three and six years of age constructed and how these hypotheses compared to those found in children who speak other languages, especi ally the Spanish speaking subjects of Ferreiro and Teberosky. These hy potheses were studied in order to ascertain how they advance knowledge of the workings of written language. Findings consider children's use of the syllabic and alphabetic principles and give credence to the fa ct that the appearance of the syllabic hypothesis may be universal, ju st as Ferreiro and Teberosky assert. Findings also suggest that Englis h speaking children actively and creatively approach the written langu age system just as children do in other parts of the literate world.