Language and Malaysian Children’s Scientific Understanding

Despite scores of studies examining various factors influencing Malaysian students understanding of science concepts, very few have actually looked into how the meaning of a specific concept is formed. This study was carried out to examine language influences on Malaysian children s understanding of concepts relating to germination of seeds. Through the use of interview, concept maps and written test, the author examines how language affects the development of meaning and understanding. Science lessons were also observed to determine how language use in the classroom influences children s understanding. It was found that children possess a myriad of understandings of each of the concepts examined prior to and after instruction, indicating that linguistic elements influence the formation of conceptual understanding as well as the way meaning is assigned to each of the concepts.