CDI445 Final4

What is a language sample?

A language sample evaluates an individual’s spontaneous or self-generated language in natural contexts.

Why are language samples considered criterion-referenced tasks?

Because the child’s language output is compared to developmental data.

Are language samples usually used alone?

No. They are typically used along with norm-referenced or standardized tests.

What is the purpose of a language sample?

To understand a child’s natural language abilities, including vocabulary, grammar, sentence length, and communication intentions.

How long does a language sample usually last?

Usually 10–15 minutes.

What is the goal number of utterances for a language sample?

The goal is usually 50–100 utterances.

What type of activity is often used to obtain a child language sample?

Natural, child-led play using joint attention.

What is joint attention?

Joint attention happens when the child and adult focus on the same object, activity, or event.

How should the adult respond during a language sample?

The adult should respond with semantically related information that is about the same length as the child’s utterance.

Should the adult ask many questions during a language sample?

No. Questions should be kept to a minimum.

Why should questions be kept to a minimum?

To allow the child’s spontaneous language to appear more naturally.

What happens after a language sample is collected?

It is recorded and transcribed.

Why are language samples transcribed?

So the SLP can analyze qualitative and quantitative language features.

What are examples of language sample analyses?

Mean Length of Utterance, Type-Token Ratio, Brown’s Morpheme Analysis, and Dore’s Speech Acts.

What does MLU stand for?

Mean Length of Utterance.

What does MLU measure?

The average length of a child’s utterances in morphemes.

How do you calculate MLU?

Count all grammatical morphemes, then divide the total number of morphemes by the total number of utterances.

What is the formula for MLU?

MLU = total morphemes ÷ total utterances.

If a child produces 21 morphemes across 5 utterances, what is the MLU?

21 ÷ 5 = 4.2.

What is a morpheme?

A morpheme is the smallest unit of meaning in language.

What is a free morpheme?

A free morpheme is a word that can stand alone.

Give examples of free morphemes.

dog, it, her, drive.

What is a bound morpheme?

A bound morpheme is a word element that cannot stand alone.

Give examples of bound morphemes.

re-, -s, -ing.

Why are bound morphemes important when calculating MLU?

Because bound morphemes count as morphemes and affect the total morpheme count.

How many morphemes are in 'Daddy go work'?

3 morphemes.

How many morphemes are in 'We put toys here'?

5 morphemes.

How many morphemes are in 'I like mixing colors'?

6 morphemes.

How many morphemes are in 'Baby is sleep'?

3 morphemes.

How many morphemes are in 'Can you help me'?

4 morphemes.

What does TTR stand for?

Type-Token Ratio.

What type of analysis is Templin’s Type-Token Ratio?

A semantic analysis.

What does Type-Token Ratio analyze?

It analyzes the relationship between the number of different words used and the total number of words in a sample.

How do you calculate TTR?

Divide the total number of different words by the total number of words.

What is the formula for TTR?

TTR = different words ÷ total words.

What can TTR help identify?

Vocabulary diversity and possible missing word classes.

What word categories can be used in TTR analysis?

Nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, negatives/affirmations, pronouns, and other words.

If a sample has 10 different words and 11 total words, what is the TTR?

10 ÷ 11 = 0.90.

What type of analysis is Brown’s Morpheme Analysis?

A syntactic analysis.

What does Brown’s Morpheme Analysis examine?

It examines whether a child is using correct grammatical morphemes expected for their age.

What should the SLP note during Brown’s Morpheme Analysis?

Any grammatical morphemes the child uses during the language sample.

What is the child’s morpheme use compared to?

The child’s age range and Brown’s Morpheme stages.

What type of analysis is Dore’s Speech Acts?

A pragmatic analysis.

What does Dore’s Speech Acts analyze?

Children’s utterances based on communication intentions.

What are primitive speech acts?

Basic communication intentions such as labeling, repeating, answering, greeting, protesting, and requesting.

Name examples of primitive speech acts.

Labeling, repeating, answering, greeting, protesting, and requesting.

What are conversational speech acts?

More advanced communication acts used in conversation.

Name examples of conversational speech acts.

Request, response to request, description, statement, acknowledgement, organizational device, performative, and miscellaneous.

How do you calculate the percentage of a speech act?

Divide the total number in that speech act category by the total number of utterances.

What is the formula for speech act percentage?

Speech act percentage = speech act category total ÷ total utterances.

What did the 2016 research survey ask school-based SLPs?

It asked whether they use language sample analysis.

What did one-third of SLPs report in the 2016 survey?

One-third reported they did not use language sample analysis in the previous school year.

Which SLPs were less likely to use language sample analysis?

SLPs serving middle and high school students.

What sample-size issue was reported in the survey?

Many SLPs did not use samples larger than 50 utterances.

What transcription issue was reported in the survey?

Many SLPs used real-time transcription.

What was the biggest reason SLPs gave for not using language sample analysis?

It was too time consuming.

What is SALT Software used for?

SALT Software helps with language sample analysis.

What is the average cost of SALT Software mentioned in the PowerPoint?

About $200 per computer license.

What is SUGAR?

SUGAR is a free language sample analysis program that uses word processing programs like Word or Google Docs.

What are two tools that can help with LSA usage problems?

SALT Software and SUGAR.

What are the four analyses listed for language samples?

MLU, Type-Token Ratio, Brown’s Morpheme Analysis, and Dore’s Speech Acts.

Which analysis focuses on sentence length?

Mean Length of Utterance, or MLU.

Which analysis focuses on vocabulary diversity?

Type-Token Ratio, or TTR.

Which analysis focuses on grammatical morphemes?

Brown’s Morpheme Analysis.

Which analysis focuses on communication intentions?

Dore’s Speech Acts.

What is the main purpose of language sample analysis?

To understand a child’s natural language abilities in context.