Content area

Abstract

Developmental Language Disorder (DLD) affects the development of phonological, semantic, morphological and syntactic aspects of language, putting children with DLD at risk of spelling difficulties. Despite a growing literature on the literacy outcomes of children with DLD, spelling difficulties in children with DLD and their underlying mechanisms are still under-researched. Furthermore, research in this population has largely focused on word-level spelling skills, on English spelling and on children who are in the early stages of learning to spell. In the present study, the spelling skills of 17 English children with DLD in grades 3-6 were compared to those of 17 children matched on chronological age (CA), and 17 children matched on spelling ability (SA). Likewise, 17 French children with DLD in grades 3-5 were compared to 17 CA and SA peers. The two language groups were also compared overall. Spelling was measured using a task of word dictation and a task of text production. The spelling errors and strategies of children with DLD were analysed quantitatively and qualitatively to identify potential markers of languages difficulties in their spelling. Another aim of the study was to characterise the skills underpinning spelling in these two languages. This was assessed using correlation and regression analyses between spelling skills and proximal measures, within and across languages. Results point to differences in the rate and type of errors across languages and ability groups. Strategy analysis further supported the hypothesis of differentiated spelling strategies in French and English and ascertained that children with DLD have difficulties using more elaborate and efficient spelling strategies. Predictor analysis revealed that underlying processes may be similar across languages, despite differences in the linguistic units being processed. The results are discussed with regards to current theories of spelling development and spelling markers of DLD across languages in late primary school.

Details

1010268
Identifier / keyword
Title
Spelling with a Developmental Language Disorder : Predictors, Strategies and Error Patterns in French- and English-Speaking Students at the End of Primary School
Publication year
2019
Degree date
2019
School code
6022
Source
DAI-C 83/9(E), Dissertation Abstracts International
University/institution
University of London, University College London (United Kingdom)
University location
England
Degree
Ph.D.
Source type
Dissertation or Thesis
Language
English
Document type
Dissertation/Thesis
Note
Bibliographic data provided by EThOS, the British Library’s UK thesis service. https://ethos.bl.uk/OrderDetails.do?uin=uk.bl.ethos.779291
Dissertation/thesis number
29103824
ProQuest document ID
2636117740
Document URL
https://www.proquest.com/dissertations-theses/spelling-with-developmental-language-disorder/docview/2636117740/se-2?accountid=208611
Copyright
Database copyright ProQuest LLC; ProQuest does not claim copyright in the individual underlying works.
Database
ProQuest One Academic