Chapter 12. Logical expressions in Mandarin-speaking children with autism spectrum disorders
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Yi (Esther) Su
Abstract
Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are traditionally believed to demonstrate profound impairment in processing semantic relations or concepts, in contrast to their relative strengths in syntax. This conclusion may be partially caused by the limitations of the traditional assessments, without incorporating fine-grained analyses of specific semantic properties that are crucial for revealing the nature of language acquisition in children with ASD. In this paper, two studies are reviewed which investigated the comprehension of logical expressions in 28 4- to 15-year-old Mandarin-speaking children with ASD and matched typical controls. Using a computer-based Truth Value Judgment task, the first study examined children’s interpretation of the logical words youxie ‘some’ and mei…huozhe…‘every…or…’. Using a computer-based Question Statement task, the second study assessed children’s understanding of the Mandarin wh-words shenme ‘what’ and shei ‘who’. The results of both studies provide evidence for the relative strengths of the interpretation of logical expressions in children with ASD. Thus, different from the traditional assumptions, it is possible that in the domain of semantics, several semantic properties may be selectively spared in children with ASD. We discuss the findings in the light of the possible contributions the language faculty makes to language acquisition, including in children with ASD.
Abstract
Children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are traditionally believed to demonstrate profound impairment in processing semantic relations or concepts, in contrast to their relative strengths in syntax. This conclusion may be partially caused by the limitations of the traditional assessments, without incorporating fine-grained analyses of specific semantic properties that are crucial for revealing the nature of language acquisition in children with ASD. In this paper, two studies are reviewed which investigated the comprehension of logical expressions in 28 4- to 15-year-old Mandarin-speaking children with ASD and matched typical controls. Using a computer-based Truth Value Judgment task, the first study examined children’s interpretation of the logical words youxie ‘some’ and mei…huozhe…‘every…or…’. Using a computer-based Question Statement task, the second study assessed children’s understanding of the Mandarin wh-words shenme ‘what’ and shei ‘who’. The results of both studies provide evidence for the relative strengths of the interpretation of logical expressions in children with ASD. Thus, different from the traditional assumptions, it is possible that in the domain of semantics, several semantic properties may be selectively spared in children with ASD. We discuss the findings in the light of the possible contributions the language faculty makes to language acquisition, including in children with ASD.
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Studies in Chinese and Japanese Language Acquisition 1
-
Part I. Tasks
- Chapter 1. The Truth Value Judgment Task 13
- Chapter 2. Negation, uncertainty, and the Truth Value Judgment Task 41
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Part II. Binding
- Chapter 3. Logophoric z iji in Mandarin child language 65
- Chapter 4. Kare and the acquisition of bound variable interpretations by Korean speaking learners of Japanese 85
- Chapter 5. Interpretation of bound pronouns by learners of Japanese Sign Language 107
- Chapter 6. The acquisition of the non-subject status of nominative objects in Japanese 127
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Part III. Scope Interactions
- Chapter 7. Scrambling and locality constraints in child Japanese 147
- Chapter 8. On scope interaction between subject QPs and negation in child grammar 165
- Chapter 9. Native and non-native comprehension of the Japanese existential quantifier nanko-ka 197
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Part IV. Wh-words and Logical Expressions
- Chapter 10. Free choice and wh -indefinites in child Mandarin 223
- Chapter 11. The acquisition of the wh -pronoun duo-shao in child Mandarin 237
- Chapter 12. Logical expressions in Mandarin-speaking children with autism spectrum disorders 265
- Name Index 281
- Subject Index 285
Chapters in this book
- Prelim pages i
- Table of contents v
- Studies in Chinese and Japanese Language Acquisition 1
-
Part I. Tasks
- Chapter 1. The Truth Value Judgment Task 13
- Chapter 2. Negation, uncertainty, and the Truth Value Judgment Task 41
-
Part II. Binding
- Chapter 3. Logophoric z iji in Mandarin child language 65
- Chapter 4. Kare and the acquisition of bound variable interpretations by Korean speaking learners of Japanese 85
- Chapter 5. Interpretation of bound pronouns by learners of Japanese Sign Language 107
- Chapter 6. The acquisition of the non-subject status of nominative objects in Japanese 127
-
Part III. Scope Interactions
- Chapter 7. Scrambling and locality constraints in child Japanese 147
- Chapter 8. On scope interaction between subject QPs and negation in child grammar 165
- Chapter 9. Native and non-native comprehension of the Japanese existential quantifier nanko-ka 197
-
Part IV. Wh-words and Logical Expressions
- Chapter 10. Free choice and wh -indefinites in child Mandarin 223
- Chapter 11. The acquisition of the wh -pronoun duo-shao in child Mandarin 237
- Chapter 12. Logical expressions in Mandarin-speaking children with autism spectrum disorders 265
- Name Index 281
- Subject Index 285
