Profiling relative clause constructions in children with specific language impairment

Frizelle, Pauline; Fletcher, Paul

Profiling relative clause constructions in children with specific language impairment

Files

PF_ProfilingAV2014.pdf(156.07 KB)

Accepted Version

ClinLingPhon.doc(117.5 KB)

Author's Original

Date

2014-06

Authors

Frizelle, Pauline

Fletcher, Paul

Publisher

Informa Healthcare

Published Version

10.3109/02699206.2014.882991

Abstract

This study highlights the importance of error analysis in providing a comprehensive profile of an individual’s grammatical ability with regard to relative clause (RC) constructions. The aim was to identify error patterns in the production of RCs by English-speaking, school-aged children with specific language impairment (SLI) and to relate them to their level of competence with these structures. Children with SLI (mean age = 6;10, n = 32) and two control groups – a typically developing group matched for age (mean age = 6;11, n = 32) and a younger typically developing group (mean age = 4;9, n = 20), repeated sentences containing RCs that represented a range of syntactic roles. Data are presented on three distinct error patterns – the provision of simple sentences, obligatory relativizer omission and RC conversions. Each is related to the level of competence on RCs that each child has achieved.

Keywords

Assessment , Relative clauses , Specific language impairment , Syntax , SLI

Citation

FRIZELLE, P. & FLETCHER, P. 2014. Profiling relative clause constructions in children with specific language impairment. Clinical Linguistics & Phonetics, 28(6), 437-449. doi: 10.3109/02699206.2014.882991