Language Development and Developmental Language Disorder

Peter Jordens

• Publisher: De Gruyter Mouton
• Year: 2022
• Print ISBN: 9783110711271
• eBook ISBN: 9783110712100
• Edition: 1
• Topic: Languages & Linguistics
• Subtopic: Linguistics
• Index: Languages & Linguistics

Acquisition of the native language proceeds in a stage-wise manner for both typically developing (TD) children and children with developmental language disorder (DLD). As shown in TD children learning Dutch and German, the ability to establish contextual cohesion serves as the driving force to proceed from a simple, lexical system to a more complex, functional system. It is argued that precisely this ability is challenged in children with DLD. The present book offers an account of the functional linguistic features fit to achieve contextual cohesion in language production. It provides a rationale for practitioners to develop linguistically founded tools to be used in speech therapy.

The acquisition of finiteness in auch- and aber-clauses in DLD. A case study

Damaris Bartz

Abstract

This study investigates the acquisition of auch- and aber-clauses in the longitudinal data of a German-speaking child with Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) in the age range of 2;5–5;11. Auch is produced early and is known as a precursor of finiteness in typical language development and DLD (Dimroth et al., 2003; Jolink, 2005, 2009; Jordens & Dimroth, 2008; Penner et al., 1999, 2000). Aber is produced several months after auch, but also typically prior to the acquisition of functional finiteness. Previous studies have reported that certain particles support or hamper the realization of finiteness in typical L1- and L2-acquisition, and these effects have been predominantly traced back to information-structural properties of these utterances (Bartz & Bittner, 2018; Bittner & Bartz, 2018; Dietrich & Grommes, 1998; Dimroth, 2002, 2009; Dimroth et al., 2009; Nederstigt, 2003; Penner et al., 2000; Schimke et al., 2008, 2012; Winkler, 2006, 2009). Little is known about the relationship between the acquisition of finiteness and aber-clauses in DLD. In her study Skerra (2017) concludes that aber can be integrated lexically prior to the acquisition of V2. However, the use of cohesion devices depends to a high degree on morphosyntactic abilities. In the present study, the impact of the acquisition of functional finiteness on the use and structure of auch- and aber-clauses is explored. In order to investigate particle-specific effects in DLD, the realization of finiteness in auch- and aber-clauses is analysed and compared to simple main clauses without any particle. In addition, information-structural properties of auch- and aber-clauses are analysed. Results are compared with the acquisition of auch- and aber-clauses in typical language development. Deviations are discussed against the background of the assumption of limited working memory capacities in children with DLD.

Keywords: particles, connectives, information structure, discourse, finiteness,

1 Introduction

The acquisition of finite clause structure is one of the important milestones in language acquisition and is typically affected in developmental language disorders (DLD, henceforth). Recent research has shown that the acquisition of finiteness is not an all-at-once occurrence, but rather a progressive and structure-dependent development. Westergaard (2009) for example investigates the acquisition of the V2 position in the Tromsø dialect of Norwegian. She suggests that instead of a general setting of a V2 parameter, V2 is acquired construction-specifically, depending on clause type, verb class, type of initial element, and information-...

Table of contents

• Title Page
• Copyright
• Contents
• Developing language. Driving forces in children learning Dutch and German
• Developmental language disorder and the functional category system
• Language acquisition in a German DLD child
• Testing the extended optional infinitive hypothesis in a German child with DLD
• The acquisition of finiteness in auch- and aber-clauses in DLD. A case study
• Index