Specific Language Impairment in German Children
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Cornelia Hamann
Abstract
The article provides an overview of linguistic research on SLI in German, concentrating on linguistic markers and accounts of the underlying deficit. It focuses on verbal morpho-syntax and verb placement, characteristic difficulties in German SLI. It argues, however, that the difficulties also concern areas of syntax and semantics such as Wh-questions in accordance with cross-linguistic findings. These broader difficulties point to problems with complex linguistic computations in general – in syntax and semantics – rather than a specific mechanism. Additionally, the article describes deviant development in the acquisition of the lexicon and German verb semantics arguing that specific linguistic properties can reveal deep properties of the syndrome. Finally, new research directions for the identification of cross-linguistic markers of SLI are explored.
Abstract
The article provides an overview of linguistic research on SLI in German, concentrating on linguistic markers and accounts of the underlying deficit. It focuses on verbal morpho-syntax and verb placement, characteristic difficulties in German SLI. It argues, however, that the difficulties also concern areas of syntax and semantics such as Wh-questions in accordance with cross-linguistic findings. These broader difficulties point to problems with complex linguistic computations in general – in syntax and semantics – rather than a specific mechanism. Additionally, the article describes deviant development in the acquisition of the lexicon and German verb semantics arguing that specific linguistic properties can reveal deep properties of the syndrome. Finally, new research directions for the identification of cross-linguistic markers of SLI are explored.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Introduction 1
- The Genetics of Specific Language Impairment (SLI) 7
- Language disorders in children with Developmental Dyslexia 35
- Is there an overlap between Specific Language Impairment and Developmental Dyslexia? New insights from French 57
- Comparing SLI and dyslexia: developmental language profiles and reading outcomes 89
- Specific Language Impairment (SLI) is not specific enough: Sub-types of SLI and their implications for the theory of the disorder 113
- Memory profiles of children with SLI 125
- The relationship between SLI in English and Modern Greek 145
- Null Subjects in Monolingual and Bilingual, Typical and Atypical Development 175
- Quantification in Catalan SLI 191
- Specific Language Impairment in German Children 215
- The acquisition of past tense by Greek-speaking children with Specific Language Impairment 253
- Theory Motivated Therapy Studies of SLI 287
- Index 319
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- List of contributors vii
- Introduction 1
- The Genetics of Specific Language Impairment (SLI) 7
- Language disorders in children with Developmental Dyslexia 35
- Is there an overlap between Specific Language Impairment and Developmental Dyslexia? New insights from French 57
- Comparing SLI and dyslexia: developmental language profiles and reading outcomes 89
- Specific Language Impairment (SLI) is not specific enough: Sub-types of SLI and their implications for the theory of the disorder 113
- Memory profiles of children with SLI 125
- The relationship between SLI in English and Modern Greek 145
- Null Subjects in Monolingual and Bilingual, Typical and Atypical Development 175
- Quantification in Catalan SLI 191
- Specific Language Impairment in German Children 215
- The acquisition of past tense by Greek-speaking children with Specific Language Impairment 253
- Theory Motivated Therapy Studies of SLI 287
- Index 319
