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The generalisation of linguistic constructions in children with or without developmental language disorders

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 May 2020

Magali KRZEMIEN*
Affiliation:
Department of Speech and Language Therapy, Research Unit on Childhood, University of Liège, Belgium
Esther SERET
Affiliation:
Department of Speech and Language Therapy, Research Unit on Childhood, University of Liège, Belgium
Christelle MAILLART
Affiliation:
Department of Speech and Language Therapy, Research Unit on Childhood, University of Liège, Belgium
*
*Corresponding author: Magali Krzemien, B.38b, 30 rue de l'Aunaie, 4000 Liège, Belgium, [email protected]

Abstract

The generalisation of linguistic constructions is performed through analogical reasoning. Children with developmental language disorders (DLD) are impaired in analogical reasoning and in generalisation. However, these processes are improved by an input involving variability and similarity. Here we investigated the performance of children with or without DLD in a construction generalisation task. We also compared their performance following training with an input involving progressive alignment (combining similarity and variability) or high variability. Progressive alignment improves construction generalisation in children with or without DLD, which could have implications for our understanding of language development and for interventions conducted with children with DLD.

Type
Brief Research Report
Copyright
Copyright © The Author(s), 2020. Published by Cambridge University Press

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