Specific Language Impairment and Linguistics Typology: Narrative Review

Authors

  • Andrea Alvarado Jiménez Universidad de Guadalajara
  • Magdalena Isabel Mojica Contreras Universidad de Guadalajara
  • Luis Miguel Sánchez Loyo Universidad de Guadalajara

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.32870/vel.vi25.299

Keywords:

Language Disorders, Specific Language Impairment, Linguistics Typology, Narrative Review, Psycholinguistics

Abstract

This study aims to identify the differences and similarities in the narrative productions of children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI) in different languages. This can aid in the classification and diagnosis of SLI by identifying patterns through linguistic typology. Linguistic typology studies languages based on their formal characteristics to find generalizable patterns that explain their functioning. This can be particularly helpful in studying SLI, which is characterized by difficulties in acquiring, producing, and comprehending language skills. The specific affected areas depend on the speaker's language. To achieve this, a narrative review of 19 articles from seven languages with different typologies (Spanish, Finnish, Russian, Dutch, English, Cantonese, and Mandarin) was conducted. Specific markers of SLI were identified, and their presence or absence was compared with those of other languages. Less syntactic complexity, less lexical diversity, and shorter sentence length were identified in the productions of children with SLI, although to different extents. This could be interpreted as a persistent marker in children's speech with SLI. The results are inconclusive, as the articles did not provide a complete linguistic description and differed in the elicited narratives. However, the data support the possibility that basic markers for SLI can be found when a methodology based on recognizing different linguistic typologies is used with thorough descriptions of the linguistic elements.

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Published

2025-02-12

How to Cite

Alvarado Jiménez, A., Mojica Contreras, M. I., & Sánchez Loyo, L. M. (2025). Specific Language Impairment and Linguistics Typology: Narrative Review. Verbum Et Lingua: Didáctica, Lengua Y Cultura, (25), 1–21. https://doi.org/10.32870/vel.vi25.299

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