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[Language development in adolescence: semantic, syntactic and pragmatic competences]
Alessandra Amaral Araújo1, Jacy Perissinoto
1Universidade Federal de São Paulo-Escola Paulista de Medicina. alessandrafono@ig.com.br
Pro-Fono : Revista De Atualizacao Cientifica
|December 22, 2004
Summary
Adolescents with learning difficulties show lower performance in metalinguistic tasks compared to peers. The Test of Language Competence-Expanded (TLC-E) effectively differentiates these groups, highlighting language processing deficits.
Area of Science:
- Developmental Psychology
- Linguistics
- Educational Psychology
Background:
- Adolescent learning difficulties are often linked to challenges in language processing.
- Metalinguistic skills are crucial for academic success during adolescence.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate metalinguistic task performance in adolescents with and without learning difficulties.
- To assess the effectiveness of the Test of Language Competence-Expanded (TLC-E) in distinguishing these groups.
Main Methods:
- 16 adolescents (ages 16-18) were studied: 8 with learning difficulties and 8 without.
- Four subtests of the Test of Language Competence-Expanded (TLC-E) were administered.
- Tasks assessed understanding of ambiguity, inference, figurative language, syntactic elaboration, and memory.
Main Results:
- Significant performance differences were found between the groups across all tested subtests.
- Adolescents with learning difficulties consistently underperformed compared to their peers.
Conclusions:
- The study confirms lower metalinguistic performance in adolescents with learning difficulties.
- The TLC-E is a valid instrument for identifying language processing deficits in this population.