Matrix Language Framework Analysis of Mixed Noun Phrases

Presenter

Sonia Elizabeth Carroll

Campus

UMass Amherst

Sponsor

Megan C. Gross, Department of Speech, Language, and Hearing Sciences, UMass Amherst

Schedule

Session 2, 11:30 AM - 12:15 PM [Schedule by Time][Poster Grid for Time/Location]

Location

Poster Board C23, Poster Showcase Room (163), Row 3 (C21-C30) [Poster Location Map]

Abstract

Code-switching is the bilingual skill of moving between languages in a systematic way following social and linguistic patterns. The Matrix Language Framework (MLF, Jake et al., 2002) predicts that the article will match the language of the conjugated verb in a bilingual Spanish/English utterance (e.g., Quiero el book [I want the book]). Because children with developmental language disorder (DLD) have been shown to make more frequent article and verb conjugation errors, examining their adherence to MLF contributes to a better understanding of how children with DLD code-switch. Past research has yielded conflicting results about whether children with DLD code-switch differently than children with typical language development (TLD). Much of this past research focuses on single-language elicitation contexts, limiting understanding of how children code-switch in bilingual contexts. 

The current study examines adherence to MLF in bilingual utterances produced by 4-7 year-old Spanish-English bilingual children with DLD and TLD. Children interacted with monolingual Spanish and English speakers and a code-switching bilingual partner during an interactive picture-description task over Zoom. Preliminary data suggests that DLD and TLD groups may not differ in how often they follow MLF, and language context may not influence how often participants follow MLF. 

Data collection is ongoing. Alternative ways of determining the matrix language (ML) will be explored to accommodate some children’s limited verb usage. Mixed effects logistic regression will examine the relationships between ML, determiner language, diagnosis (DLD/TLD), and context (monolingual/code-switching). This research can inform clinical assessment practices for bilingual children with DLD.

Keywords

Child Bilingualism, Code-switching, Developmental Language Disorder, Speech Language Pathology, Spanish

Research Area

Linguistics and Language Studies

SIMILAR ABSTRACTS (BY KEYWORD)