In:
Journal of Cognitive Education and Psychology, Springer Publishing Company, Vol. 2, No. 3 ( 2002-01), p. 244-265
Abstract:
The language profile of individuals with fragile-X syndrome looks like that of individuals with Down syndrome, except for phonological and pragmatic abilities. Whereas the pragmatic aspect of language is relatively preserved in Down syndrome, it is one of the most impaired language components in fragile-X syndrome. Discourse of persons with fragile X generally contains repetitions, perseverations, and stereotypies. These behaviors are well documented in the literature but we do not know, for now, the reasons for these repetitions and perseverations. Are they the consequence of a real pragmatic disorder or the consequence of motor difficulties? Another aspect of the pragmatic component of language (in this pathology) remains almost unexplored: the common ground management and the organization of the old and the new information in conversation. It is this last point that we explore. We conducted a preliminary study with four boys with fragile-X aged from 6 to 12 years. Pairs of boys worked together on referential communication tasks. We presented traditional experimental situations in a non-eye contact condition between participants. We compared the results of our subjects with those of typically developing children matched for lexical age. Boys with Fragile-X were less efficient than were typically developing children when the message to give or receive contained spatial terms or “ordinal” attributes. They also managed less efficiently with an incomplete message, especially when it was given by an adult.
Type of Medium:
Online Resource
ISSN:
1945-8959
,
1810-7621
DOI:
10.1891/194589502787383227
Language:
English
Publisher:
Springer Publishing Company
Publication Date:
2002
SSG:
5,2
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