LANGUAGE IN INDIA

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Volume 23:6 June 2023
ISSN 1930-2940

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Plural Markers, PNG Markers and Case Markers in
Malayalam Speaking Children with Intellectual Disability

Dr. Vini Abhijith Gupta, Ph.D. and Dr. T. A. Subbarao, Ph.D.

Abstract

Within the field of speech language pathology several attempts at studying language disorders are seen in the past 3 decades. Studies have shown that more than 80% of children with intellectual disability (ID) show language delays and requires professional intervention (Subba Rao and Srinivas, 1989; Bharat Raj, 1987; Prabhu, 1968 and others, as cited in Selvi, K., 1999). CWID showed delayed development of syntax. The LARSP procedure has been adapted successfully to describe the language of CWID in Kannada (Kumaraswamy, 2021; Subbarao, 1995). The present study followed a similar methodology and described language (in terms of syntax skills) of Malayalam speaking CWID. The objectives of the study were analyzing their expression data on plural markers, PNGF markers and Case markers. The description of Malayalam spoken syntactic structures was obtained from two sources, namely Grammar of Malayalam (Nair, 2012) and Malayalam - Descriptive Grammars (Asher, & Kumari, 1997). 60 CWID (4-6 years MA) were studied using natural conversational samples using toys, play materials, pictures. Except regular plural markers, other plural markers (e.g., Suffix/-ar and /-mar//) were not well developed in either group of CWID. Except for second person markers other PNG markers like first person, second person and third person singular were seen frequently in both groups of children. First person and third person markers predominate in the samples probably due to the nature of data collection using spontaneous play and conversation. Case markers were generally difficult for CWID. However, nominative and genitive case markers were observed frequently in both groups of CWID.

Children with Intellectual Disability (CWID) are a heterogeneous group having non symbolic or symbolic communication disabilities. They may demonstrate spoken and written language disorders across the components of language previously described. (APA, 2013, cited in ASHA n.d). Unlike Typically Developing (TD) children, the development of language does not occur as expected in CWID. It is generally accepted that in CWID speech and language development is delayed when compared to TD children. This delay hypothesis suggests that developmental sequence of speech and language is similar and the factors underlying are similar. It is observed that CWID children have lower ceiling of speech and language as compared to TD children. Studies have pointed out that more than 80% of CWID show language delays and require professional intervention (Bharat Raj, 1987; Prabhu, 1968; Subbarao & Srinivas, 1989). Some studies (Subbarao,1995; Kumaraswamy, 2021) also emphasized deviance in the language development. Subbarao (1995) has confirmed delay hypothesis, and also reported certain syntactic deviance as compared to TD children.

Among the five domains of language, syntax is considered as the central component. The term syntax is from the Ancient Greek - syntaxis a verbal noun which literally means arrangement or setting out together (Valin, 2001). It refers to the branch of grammar dealing with the ways in which words with or without appropriate inflections are arranged to show connections of meaning within the sentence. It specifies the order the words must take and the organization of different sentence types. It allows the individual to combine words into phrases and sentences and also to transform a type of sentence into other types. Syntax describes how sentences are constructed selecting from a variety of possible arrangements of elements in sentences. The parameters of syntax include i. morphophonemic-structures, ii. plurals, iii. Tenses, iv. PNG markers, v. case markers, vi. transitives, intransitives and causatives, vii. sentence types, viii conjunctions comparatives and Quotatives, ix. Conditional clauses and x. participle constructions.

The present study attempts to obtain parameters of syntax namely Plural markers, Case markers, PNG markers from language samples in Malayalam speaking children with ID . Broad based, naturalistic samples, descriptive linguistic analyses are important aspects and should be considered in Indian contexts. Language Assessment, Remediation and Screening Procedure [LARSP] (Crystal et al, 1976 and 1989) is one such procedure, which has proved to be clearer in its methodology and has clearer guidelines on using spontaneous language samples. It was developed as a single procedure integrating the clinical operations of screening, assessment, and remediation in the area of grammar. It is based on a description of English grammar. The present study followed the guidelines and modifications provided by Subbarao (1995) who completed a comprehensive language analysis of Kannada speaking CWID, using the overall theoretical guidelines provided by LARSP(Crystal et al., 1976 and 1989).

This is only the beginning part of the article. PLEASE CLICK HERE TO READ THE ENTIRE ARTICLE IN PRINTER-FRIENDLY VERSION.

Dr. Vini Abhijith Gupta, Ph.D.
Associate Professor
Dr. M. V. Shetty College of Speech and Hearing
Malady Court, Kavoor Mangalore-575015
Karnataka, India
vinimvstcosh@gmail.com

Dr. T. A. Subbarao, Ph.D.
Director
Dr. M. V. Shetty College of Speech and Hearing
Malady Court, Kavoor Mangalore-575015
Karnataka, India
drtasr.slp@gmail.com
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