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| Research article summary (published 29 Jun 2003): |
Do children with Down syndrome have difficulty with argument structure?
Full Abstract
The language transcripts of seven children with Down syndrome (DS) and seven typically developing children with comparable mean length of utterance (MLU) levels were examined for their use of verb argument structure. The children's production of subject arguments, direct object arguments, and inappropriate use of arguments (anomalies) were compared for each group. When compared across verb category, the results of this study revealed no significant group differences for the omission of subject arguments. However, when arguments for transitive verb productions were compared, the children with DS were more likely to omit subject arguments in comparison to direct object arguments. In addition, the normal control group was more likely to use anomalous argument patterns than the children with DS. These findings suggest that syntactic difficulties that are characteristic of children with DS may delay them in overcoming the optional subject (OS) phenomena (Ingham, 1992). A greater number of anomalous arguments used by the normal children suggests an inadequate knowledge of argument structure at this stage of language development.As a result of this activity, the participant will be able to describe the relationship between syntax and semantics as it applies to the knowledge of verbs in children with Down syndrome.
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Author information
Author/s: Grela, Bernard G (BG);
Affiliation: Department of Communication Sciences, University of Connecticut, 850 Bolton Road, U-85, Storrs, CT 06269, USA. bgrela(-atsign-)uconn.edu
Journal and publication information
Publication Type: Journal Article
Journal: Journal of communication disorders (J Commun Disord), published in United States. (Language: eng)
Reference: -2003 Jul-Aug; vol 36 (issue 4) : pp 263-79
Dates: Created 2003/07/02; Completed 2003/09/10; Revised 2004/11/17;
PMID: 12837586, status: MEDLINE (last retrieval date: 11/6/2008)
Sourced from the National Library of Medicine. Abstract text and other information may be subject to copyright.
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