Relevant responding in pragmatic language impairment: the role of language variation in the information-soliciting utterance

Abstract

Responding relevantly to an information-soliciting utterance (ISU) is required of a school-age child many times daily. For the' child with pragmatic language difficulties, this may be especially problematic, yet clinicians have had few data to design intervention for improving these skills. This small-scale study looks at the ability of a child with pragmatic language difficulties to respond relevantly to ISUs in relation to variations in ISU complexity. Propositional density, perceptual distance, syntax and vocabulary diversity of the ISU are analysed to determine factors influencing conversational relevance. Results show that decreased propositional density is associated with improved relevance for this child.