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Journal of Undergraduate Research

Keywords

UK, BYU, local norms, pragmatic language, speech-language pathology

College

David O. McKay School of Education

Department

Communication Disorders

Abstract

In the field of speech-language pathology, we encounter many children with what is known as language impairment. This impairment cannot be attributed to intellectual or sensory factors, and has been shown to involve a delay in both semantic (word meanings) and syntactic (grammar and structure) abilities. Some researchers also question whether pragmatic abilities (language usage in real-life contexts) are affected in those with language impairment. However, an instrument to evaluate pragmatics is very difficult to design. Typical formal tests don’t allow for varied contexts—an integral part of pragmatic skills. Eliminating these varied contexts inherently reduces the validity of results.1

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