Examination of Morpho-Syntactic Production in Bahamian Creole English-Speaking Children
Faculty Advisor Name
Geralyn Timler, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
Department
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
Description
Introduction
When speech-language pathologists (SLPs) evaluate for a language disorder (LD), they often assess a child’s syntax and morphology to identify LD associated clinical markers. These markers can vary from the mainstream language depending on the child’s language use or variation. Therefore, SLPs need to understand the features of children’s language systems when determining LD, as it reduces the risk of underdiagnosing or overdiagnosing children (Bland-Stewart, 2005). This method, however, is only possible for well-investigated variations such as African American English (Stockman, 2010), and proves difficult for SLPs servicing children who speak understudied language variations, such as Bahamian Creole English (BCE). Although understudied, descriptions of BCE are available for adult speakers (Hackert, 2013). However, information regarding developmental descriptions of BCE is limited.
Research Question
This study investigated the morpho-syntax of sixteen typically developing four and six-year-old children who speak BCE, addressing the following research question: What are the surface morpho-syntactic features of children who speak BCE? We hypothesized that differences in BCE syntax development will be observed between four- and six-year-old children. Further, we predicted that the frequency of creole features varies based on task demands (e.g., standardized measure versus conversation sample) and creole density (i.e., a measure of child’s creole-specific feature use).
Methods
Participants: Prior to recruitment, ethics approval was obtained from James Madison University and the Bahamas’ Ministry of Health. A convenience sample of nine four-year-old and seven six-year-old typically developing Bahamian children were recruited via flyers and word of mouth. Four children were excluded from data analysis due to failing one of the two screening measures (i.e., parent report of language difficulties via case history or nonword repetition task performance).
Procedures: Study measures were administered during one 90-minute audio and video recorded assessment session at participant homes, schools, or community centers. Parents completed The Children’s Communication Checklist-2 (Bishop, 2003). Child measures included the Multilingual Assessment Instrument for Narratives (Gagarina et al., 2012), a quasi-universal nonword repetition task (Chiat, 2015), the Rice Wexler Test of Early Grammatical Impairment (TEGI; Rice & Wexler, 2001), and a 30-minute play-based conversation language sample.
Results and Analysis
Samples were transcribed in the Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts (SALT 16; Miller & Iglesias, 2016). Morpho-syntactic features of interest were coded and a percentage of feature use across sentences (i.e., creole density) and age and task differences was investigated. Results include developmental differences in the rates of creole and standard English (SE) features used on morphemes, such as copula be. However, differences were not observed in past tense verbs, as both groups consistently used BCE features. Additionally, both groups used consistent rates of creole features during conversation tasks, but code-switched more frequently between BCE and SE during narrative and structured tasks.
Implications
Study results provide the first developmental description of typically developing four-year-old and six-year-old BCE speakers. The long-term goal of this research program is to inform assessment procedures for the identification of LD in children who speak BCE. Study limitations include small sample size and unmatched age groups.
Examination of Morpho-Syntactic Production in Bahamian Creole English-Speaking Children
Introduction
When speech-language pathologists (SLPs) evaluate for a language disorder (LD), they often assess a child’s syntax and morphology to identify LD associated clinical markers. These markers can vary from the mainstream language depending on the child’s language use or variation. Therefore, SLPs need to understand the features of children’s language systems when determining LD, as it reduces the risk of underdiagnosing or overdiagnosing children (Bland-Stewart, 2005). This method, however, is only possible for well-investigated variations such as African American English (Stockman, 2010), and proves difficult for SLPs servicing children who speak understudied language variations, such as Bahamian Creole English (BCE). Although understudied, descriptions of BCE are available for adult speakers (Hackert, 2013). However, information regarding developmental descriptions of BCE is limited.
Research Question
This study investigated the morpho-syntax of sixteen typically developing four and six-year-old children who speak BCE, addressing the following research question: What are the surface morpho-syntactic features of children who speak BCE? We hypothesized that differences in BCE syntax development will be observed between four- and six-year-old children. Further, we predicted that the frequency of creole features varies based on task demands (e.g., standardized measure versus conversation sample) and creole density (i.e., a measure of child’s creole-specific feature use).
Methods
Participants: Prior to recruitment, ethics approval was obtained from James Madison University and the Bahamas’ Ministry of Health. A convenience sample of nine four-year-old and seven six-year-old typically developing Bahamian children were recruited via flyers and word of mouth. Four children were excluded from data analysis due to failing one of the two screening measures (i.e., parent report of language difficulties via case history or nonword repetition task performance).
Procedures: Study measures were administered during one 90-minute audio and video recorded assessment session at participant homes, schools, or community centers. Parents completed The Children’s Communication Checklist-2 (Bishop, 2003). Child measures included the Multilingual Assessment Instrument for Narratives (Gagarina et al., 2012), a quasi-universal nonword repetition task (Chiat, 2015), the Rice Wexler Test of Early Grammatical Impairment (TEGI; Rice & Wexler, 2001), and a 30-minute play-based conversation language sample.
Results and Analysis
Samples were transcribed in the Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts (SALT 16; Miller & Iglesias, 2016). Morpho-syntactic features of interest were coded and a percentage of feature use across sentences (i.e., creole density) and age and task differences was investigated. Results include developmental differences in the rates of creole and standard English (SE) features used on morphemes, such as copula be. However, differences were not observed in past tense verbs, as both groups consistently used BCE features. Additionally, both groups used consistent rates of creole features during conversation tasks, but code-switched more frequently between BCE and SE during narrative and structured tasks.
Implications
Study results provide the first developmental description of typically developing four-year-old and six-year-old BCE speakers. The long-term goal of this research program is to inform assessment procedures for the identification of LD in children who speak BCE. Study limitations include small sample size and unmatched age groups.
