ABSTRACT
The aim of this research was to collect data on some aspects of the linguistic structure of narratives produced by children from a low incom community. Data were obtained from a speech and language try-out applied to 70 children, aged from 6 to 12, who were taking first two years at a school and all belonging to the same community. Only the items which lent themselves to the production of a story from visual prompts have been analysed in this research. The proposal for the elaboration of oral language devised by Chiari, B. M. (1983) was used as a reference in the colecting data. Our first findings suggest that subjects use everyday language, simple speech patterns presenting grammar notions and they develop topics according to their life and esperience. Using the data on normal oral language development and the data in our findings, it is our intention to work with the community in the orientation of teachers, in the use of pedagogical material and preventive actions regarding language development and the learning of reading and writing