Some Evidence of Continuing Linguistic Acquisitions in Learning Adolescents.

Dr. Sean A. Walmsley, Reading Department, School of Education, The University at Albany, 1400 Washington Avenue, Albany, New York 12222

N

18

Comprehension; Language Acquisition; Language Handicaps; Language Research; Learning Disabilities; Linguistic Performance; Linguistic Theory; Secondary Education; Structural Linguistics

The linguistic development of 42 learning disabled students 10-16 years old was examined. Responses were elicited to five linguistic structures, including the distinction between "ask" and "tell", pronominal restriction, and the minimum distance principle. Data were analyzed in terms of three groups based on Verbal and Performance differentials on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, and in terms of the Ss' performance as a whole to determine whether the constructions were acquired in the order previously suggested by C. Chomsky. Results indicated that the Ss demonstrated late (approximately 3-4 years) and idiosyncratic acquisition of the structures, although most of them did acquire them in the order posited by Chomsky for normal younger children. (CL)

1977

ED135144