Routledge Dictionary of Language and Linguistics.pdf

Dictionary of language and linguistics 302Referencesalso developmental language disorder, specific language impairment.developmental language disorderRefers broadly to any pattern of delay or impairment in a child’s first languageacquisition and may be caused by neural or emotional trauma during the languageacquisition period, but more usually implies a causal agent present before languagelearning begins. Significant language disorders are found in children with mentalretardation, specific language impairment, or autism, as well as in children withimpaired hearing or vision. Such disorders entail the delayed onset of speech and certaincharacteristic patterns of atypical language development and use, which may persistthroughout life. When the disorder occurs after the onset of language, there may bevirtual recovery due to neural plasticity during the childhood years. The extent ofrecovery depends upon the nature and severity of the trauma and the degree to whichlanguage specialization ( lateralization) has already occurred. Developmentallanguage disorders may affect the ability to understand spoken or written language just asmuch as the ability to speak or write ( developmental dyslexia), and are frequentlyassociated with articulatory impairments ( phonological disorder, dyslalia) and/orimpairments in speech rhythm ( cluttering). Research in developmental languagedisorders is pursued within the disciplines of psychiatry, neurology, psycholinguistics,developmental psychology, and neurolinguistics, often with the intent of illuminatingnormal acquisition processes by studying the dissociations which mark these clinicalsyndromes. Professionals within speech-language pathology, clinical linguistics, andneuropsychology are concerned with the diagnosis and treatment of developmentallanguage disorders and with research on these topics.ReferencesAram, D. and J.Nation. 1982. Child language disorders. St Louis, MO.Ball, M.J. 1988. Theoretical linguistics and disordered language. London.Beitchman, J.H. and A.Inglis. 1991. The continuum of linguistic dysfunction from pervasivedevelopmental disorders to dyslexia. Psychiatric Clinics of North America 14. 95–111.Benthal, J. and N.W.Bankson. 1988. Articulation and phonological disorders, 2nd rev. edn.Englewood Cliffs, NJ.Bishop, D. and K.Mogford (eds) 1988. Language development in exceptional circumstances.Edinburgh.Cantwell, D.P. and L.Baker. 1988. Developmental speech and language disorders. Hillside, NJ.Grunwell, P. 1987. Clinical phonology. London.Johnston, J.R. 1993. Definition and diagnosis of language developmental disorders. In G.Blankenet al (eds), Linguistic disorders and pathologies: an international handbook. Berlin and NewYork. 574–84.