Linguistic specificity through literate language use in preschool-age children with specific language impairment and typical language

Abstract

Linguistic specificity through rate of literate language feature (LLF) use was investigated in preschoolage children with specific language impairment (SLI, n = 15) and with typical language ( n = 15) in play and storybook-sharing contexts with mothers. Children’s language was assessed on five LLF dimensions (simple elaborated noun phrases, complex elaborated noun phrases, adverbs, conjunctions, and mental and linguistic verbs), and on the summed LLF composite across contexts. Children with typical language had a higher rate of conjunction use and of the LLF composite in play. All children used higher rates of adverbs and complex elaborated noun phrases in play. Clinical and theoretical implications are provided for language development and assessment.