Writing a paper on Role Playing games' effect on oral language development

[Aroh]

Hi all,
Not sure where else to post this but I'm studying elementary education and for my LA class I'm writing a paper on the way that Role Playing games can advance a child's oral language development.

Wondering if anyone has any sources that I could use or any ideas for me I would greatly appreciate it.

Thanks!

[LazarX]

Considering how much trouble I have getting some PFS players to open up their mouths, when it's anything but thier time to roll to hit... :) I might find it hard to argue for roleplaying games to be an aid for communication development.

[Misroi]

Heh, I know those people, Lazar. I also know their cousins, the people who can't keep their traps shut!

With regards to the original post, I'll admit I'm not 100% sure what you're looking for, Aroh. I'm guessing that you're looking at how children learn to speak and their flexibility with language, that RPGs have some sort of influence upon this, and that it would be really nice if RPGs have a positive influence. Am I close?

[marcryser]

Early exposure to RPGs will tend to alter a young student's vocabulary acquisition. The typical 5th grader doesn't know who a 'castellan' or a 'vizier' is but someone who does a lot of RP will know those words. I don't have a source for you but you can probably find something on how someone learns the vernacular and/or jargon of a specific field or hobby. Afterall, someone who spends their childhood on horseback knows a lot of words that others do not.

That knowledge may be superficial (or even wrong) but at least they would have been exposed to a large variety of words for otherwise commonplace things.

[BigDTBone]

I did several searches jstor looking for something appropriate but didn't turn anything up. My inclination is that such a study has not been done.

While I understand the premise of your paper, I think it will prove rather difficult to find direct evidence in support of what is essentially an unproven theory.

I did find this paper which discusses the benefits of narrative story telling and gaming for general educative purposes. I hope your paper turns out well!

[John Kerpan]

I agree with BigDTBone. The idea is awesome, but it is something that you need to see a study for.

Or, you could look into what aspects of RPGs you think would improve language, and find studies proving as many of those ideas as possible (Meaningful Communication leading to stronger acquisition, social pressure increasing vocabulary etc), whatever you think the reason is. Good luck!