Full Answer Section

• Methods:
  • Play-based interactions with toys and games.
  • Story retelling or picture description tasks.
  • Casual conversation with the child and her parents.
  • Audio and video recordings will be made for later transcription and analysis.

Analysis of Language Samples:

1. Common Measures of Word Use:

   • Vocabulary Diversity:
     • We’d calculate the number of different words (NDW) used in each language.
     • This would reveal her lexical richness and variety.
     • We would also calculate the total number of words (TNW) used.
   • Code-Switching:
     • We’d analyze the frequency and patterns of code-switching (mixing languages).
     • This is a normal phenomenon in bilingual development, but we’d assess if it’s age-appropriate and functional.
     • We would note if the code switching occurs within sentences, or between sentences.
   • Lexical Errors:
     • We’d identify any instances of word-finding difficulties, semantic errors (e.g., using the wrong word), or phonological errors.
     • We would note if errors are present in one, or both languages.

2. Difficulties in Morphology and Syntax:

   • Morphology:
     • We’d analyze her use of grammatical morphemes (e.g., plural -s, past tense -ed, verb conjugations).
     • In English, we’d watch for errors with:
       • Regular and irregular past tense verbs.
       • Third-person singular -s.
       • Possessive -s.
       • Copula and auxiliary verbs (e.g., “is,” “are,” “was”).
     • In Spanish, we’d examine:
       • Gender and number agreement.
       • Verb conjugations.
       • Use of articles.
     • Bilingual children may show some delays in acquiring complex morphology, especially in their weaker language.
   • Syntax:
     • We’d analyze her sentence structure, including:
       • Sentence length and complexity.
       • Use of different sentence types (e.g., declarative, interrogative, imperative).
       • Word order.
       • Use of embedded clauses.
     • Children with LLD or SLI may exhibit:
       • Shorter, less complex sentences.
       • Omission of grammatical elements.
       • Difficulty with word order.
       • Over reliance on simple sentence structure.

3. Clinical Applications:

   • Diagnosis:
     • Language samples help differentiate typical bilingual development from language disorders.
     • They provide valuable information for diagnosing LLD or SLI in bilingual children.
   • Intervention Planning:
     • Language sample analysis informs the selection of appropriate therapy targets.
     • For example, if Sofia shows difficulties with English verb conjugations, therapy would focus on those specific forms.
     • If code switching is excessive, or hindering communication, therapy can address this.
   • Progress Monitoring:
     • Repeat language samples can track a child’s progress over time.
     • This allows therapists to adjust intervention strategies as needed.
   • Parent Education:
     • Language samples can be used to educate parents about their child’s language development.
     • We can provide strategies for supporting language growth at home in both languages.
   • Cultural Considerations:
     • It is very important to consider the cultural norms of both languages, when evaluating the child.
     • Some things that are considered errors in one language, are normal in another.
     • It is also very important to consider the dialect of both languages, as dialectical differences are not errors.