Abstract

Infants' free playing in day-care center was videotapexl and analyzed statistically to examine whether there is any difference in infants' verbal and nonverbal interactions according to their partner(teacher/peer). The subjects were 20 two-year old(M=32.7 months) infants(10 boys and 10 girls) enrolled in a day-care center. Major findings are as followings: 1) Infants' verbal interactions were different according to their partner(teacher/peer). Whereas teachers mostly spoke to infants, infants more frequently spoke to their peers rather than to teachers. 2) The mode of Infants' verbal interactions and the words they use were partially different in respect to their parfier. 3) Also infants' nonverbal interactions were partially different according to partner. Infants used sympathetic words and imperative ones with the peers. While infants used coordinative words to their peers and showed playing behavior more frequently, they did afformative words and approaching behavior to their teacher.