The influence of television and gadgets on children's speech development: a social study

Abstract

This article explores the impact of television on children's language development and analyzes linguistic shortcomings observed in television programs. To identify the main issues, the authors conducted a large-scale survey covering all regions of the Republic of Kazakhstan and analyzed the results comprehensively. Based on the respondents' answers, the study identified the main challenges in language development and drew conclusions based on scientific approaches. The survey addressed several aspects: the influence of the language used in children's television programs on their speech development, the level of children's proficiency in the Kazakh language, the conformity of media language with linguistic norms, common language deviations in children's speech, and the amount of screen time. The findings demonstrate the need to enhance mechanisms aimed at preserving linguistic norms and fostering a generation fluent in the Kazakh language, especially in the context of growing influence from television and internet media. A total of 622 individuals participated in the survey. The sociolinguistic analysis of the collected data made it possible to track the dynamics of lexical deviations in children's language use. The study, which covered various demographic and geographical groups, revealed how social factors – particularly television dependence – affect lexical changes in children's speech. The research confirms the critical role of parents in laying the foundation of the native (Kazakh) language and highlights the significant influence of the surrounding environment, especially television, on children’s adherence to linguistic norms. The survey was conducted in Kazakh using open-ended questions, and data collection spanned three months. The article analyzes the impact of television and gadgets on children's language development and provides recommendations for implementing public initiatives in the cultural and linguistic direction.