The purpose of this study is to examine what syntactic complexity can be found in expository and conversational discourses which school-age children with specific language impairment (SLI) frequently encounter in school and daily life, and when evalua...
The purpose of this study is to examine what syntactic complexity can be found in expository and conversational discourses which school-age children with specific language impairment (SLI) frequently encounter in school and daily life, and when evaluated and mediated, whether discourse genre should be considered and it is necessary to expand discourse genre further. For this, the study focused on syntax, used in expository discourse and conversation by twelve children with SLI between second and third grade in elementary school, twelve normal children matched on the chronological age with SLI group (CA control group), and twelve normal children matched on the language age with SLI group (LA control group). Discourse genres were classed in terms of cognitive structure and a goal(Brewer, 1980). In conversational discourse, more than two participants were asked to let loose of sharing personal experience free from any structure and in expository discourse, logically to deliver abstract information through collection, one of the freest types of the structure.
The participants began with conversation uncontrolled but through verbal prompt, and then were led to expository discourse. In order to show group differences based on discourse genres, syntactic complexity was measured with MLC-w (mean length of C-unit in word) and MNC (mean number of clause in a C-unit) and examined with the percentage of using nominal clauses in a C-unit, of the relative clauses, of the adverbial clauses, of the syntactic errors, and error type analysis. For analyzing group differences according to conversation and expository discourse was split-plot factorial 2-way ANOVA adopted, and for the differences according to discourse genres was one-way ANOVA adopted. The study results are as follows:
First, syntactic complexity measured by MLC-w showed significant differences according to discourse genres, and MLC-w was found to be longer in expository discourse than in conversational discourse.
Second, syntactic complexity measured by MNC showed significant differences according to discourse genres, and all three groups used more MNC in expository discourse than in the conversational. Also, CA control group used significantly more MNC in expository discourse than SLI group did.
Third, the percentage of using nominal clauses in a C-unit showed statistically significant group effects, and the percentage, especially in expository discourse, was significantly higher within the CA control group than both the LA and the SLI.
Fourth, the percentage of using relative clauses in a C-unit indicated significant differences according to discourse genres, and all three groups used relative clauses more in expository discourse than in conversational.
Fifth, the percentage of using adverbial clauses in a C-unit indicated significant differences according to discourse genres, and all three groups used adverbial clauses more in expository discourse than in conversational.
Sixth, the percentage of making syntax error in a C-unit showed statistically significant group effects, and the percentage, both in expository and conversational discourses, was significantly higher within SLI group than both the LA and the CA.
Seventh, differences according to discourse genres in making syntax errors were apparent within SLI group. The group made syntax errors in conversational discourse in using particles, tenses, the rest, and connectives, voices in this order, and errors in expository discourse in using particles, connectives, the rest, voices, tenses in this order. Also, the group still frequently made tense errors, usually considered not to be committed by normal children.
The study led to the results that there are significant group and discourse genre effects in syntax use. In this regard, in order to appropriately evaluate and mediate language proficiency of children in the lower grades with specific language impairment, it is indispensable to reach to effective analysis and the characteristics of the impairment using various discourse genres.