Computer-based analysis of Turkish child language: Clinical and research applications

Abstract

Language sample analysis can be used normatively to evaluate the extent and nature of children's language disorders. This strategy is particularly valuable for languages where standardized tests are not available. A number of computer programs have been created to streamline the analysis process. This paper describes the adaptation of one such program, SALT (Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts), for use with children who are learning Turkish as a first language. The reference database is described and features of the program are illustrated with data from four clinical cases. Profiles that compare relative delays in various linguistic domains indicated significant difficulties with grammatical morphology, especially nominal inflections, and widely varying lexical competence. These and other facts about language disorders in children learning Turkish may ultimately change our understanding of the nature of language learning and disorder, whether viewed from a psychological or a linguistic perspective.