A Comparison of Subject Pronoun Use by Characters in Two Television Shows Targeting Preschoolers

Abstract

The purpose of this investigation was to compare the accuracy and type of subject pronouns used by characters in 2 television shows targeting the preschool demographic: Sesame Street and Barney and Friends. Method: The first 100 opportunities for pronoun use in 5 episodes of each show were transcribed. The opportunities for subject pronoun use were classified as either correct, substitution, or omission. Subject pronouns were also analyzed by person and by singular versus plural tense. Results: Both television shows have high subject pronoun use accuracy. No statistical differences were reported for accuracy, but statistical differences did occur in the types of pronouns used: Sesame Street used significantly more singular and second person pronouns, whereas Barney and T