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PubMed1996

Language codes and sense-making among deaf schoolchildren.

There are at least two languages (American Sign Language [ASL], English) and three modalities (sign, speech, print) in most deaf individuals' lives. Mixing of ASL and English in utterances of deaf adults has been described in various ways (pidgins, diglossia, language contact, bilingualism), but children's mixing usually is treated as the 'fault' of poor input language. Alternatively, how might language mixing serve their communication goals? This article describes code variations and adaptations to particular situations. Deaf children were seen to exhibit a wide variety of linguistic structures mixing ASL, English, Spanish, signing, and speaking. Formal lessons supported a recoding of English print as sign and speech, but the children who communicated English speech were the two who could hear speech. The children who communicated ASL were those who had deaf parents communicating ASL or who identified with deaf houseparents communicating ASL. Most language produced by the teacher and children in this study was mixed in code and mode. While some mixing was related to acquisition and proficiency, mixing, a strategy of many deaf individuals, uniquely adapts linguistic resources to communication needs. Investigating deaf children's language by comparing it to standard English or ASL overlooks the rich strategies of mixing that are central to their communication experience.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2001

Speech disorder in schizophrenia: review of the literature and exploration of its relation to the uniquely human capacity for language.

The language capacity of modern humans is thought by some to be clearly distinct from that of nonhuman primates (Bickerton 1990). Crow (1997, 1998a) has proposed that a disturbance in the uniquely human aspects of language is central to the genetic etiology of schizophrenia. A review of the literature on language disorder in schizophrenia provides evidence for widespread deficits in comprehension, production, attention, and cerebral lateralization of language. We focused here on those anomalies that are uniquely human aspects of language. Bickerton's five distinctly human language devices were examined in patients with schizophrenia and their families by using a structured scoring format on oral soliloquies. The chronic patients showed reduced use of clausal embedding and used fewer words than first episode patients or well family members. The amount of sentence complexity was found to be familial and to cosegregate with schizophrenia within families. These data are consistent with previous literature and additionally show a familial component to these measures, thus suggesting that deficits in specifically human aspects of language may be related to the genetics of schizophrenia.

Adult↗

PubMed1994

Neuropsychological evaluation of language.

Neuropsychological evaluation of language may be based on the psychometric approach or on extensive exploration of modular functions according to cognitive or linguistic theory. Various approaches have several features in common, although some emphasize individual functions, and others explore syndromes in brain-damaged populations. Systematic assessment of language has been developed according to the goals of various clinicians and researchers. Beyond the diagnostic need, prognosis, and planning for therapy, there are important theoretical reasons to have standardized aphasia tests and complementary experimental explorations of language deficit. Objective quantitation of deficit allows the study of the anatomical and physiological organization of language-related structures. It also contributes to the relationship of language and other modalities of cognition, hemispheric lateralization, language development in children, and language dissolution in degenerative disease. The requirements, content, standardization, and application of aphasia tests are discussed.

Agraphia↗

PubMed2006

Event-related potential evidence for parallel activation of two languages in bilingual speech production.

The cross-language identity effect refers to the benefit of processing a translation distractor in the cross-language picture-word interference task. The first event-related-potential evidence for this effect was obtained in a picture-naming priming task using Chinese-English bilinguals of languages with distinct scripts. The results indicated that parallel activation of both languages is a universal phenomenon in bilingual speech production. Furthermore, the present study revealed that the temporal course and magnitude of activation of the nontarget language during target language production was modulated by the relative proficiency in the two languages.

Adult↗

PubMed2005

The influence of standardized languages on nurses' autonomy.

AIM: To investigate the influence of standardized languages on nurses' autonomy. BACKGROUND: The uses of standardized languages are expanding. These languages unify communication across health care settings. Autonomy is a favourable concept for nurses. The use of standardized languages may hinder nurses' autonomy; however, these languages may also promote nurses' autonomy. EVALUATION: Review of the literature. KEY ISSUES: The key issue discussed in this paper is whether the use of standardized languages affects nurses' autonomy. CONCLUSIONS: Nurses should use standardized languages in every day practices as it reflects a mastery over their own work. Having control over practice is an important attribute of nurses' autonomy.

Attitude of Health Personnel↗

PubMed1982

Neuropsychological approaches to the study of language.

This paper discusses recent studies of aphasia from the perspective of theories of normal language structure and processing. Patterns of language breakdown are considered to reflect the componential structure of the language system. In some cases, brain damage is seen to fractionate language along lines suggested by existing psycholinguistic models: certain syndromes can be viewed as more or less isolated disturbances involving lexical, syntactic or phonological components of the language system, or psychological functions such as short-term memory. In other cases, aphasic deficits point to levels of language function not yet well specified by normative models. This review of psycholinguistically oriented research on aphasia supports the effort to construct integrated theories of language functioning on the basis of both normal and pathological performances.

Aphasia↗

PubMed1997

A direct comparison of PET activation and electrocortical stimulation mapping for language localization.

Mapping eloquent language cortex in presurgical patients typically is accomplished using highly invasive direct cortical stimulation techniques. Functional imaging during language activation using positron emission tomography (PET) is a promising, noninvasive alternative that requires validation. In seven patients undergoing surgical evaluation for intractable epilepsy, we performed both direct cortical stimulation and PET activation mapping of language cortex using identical tasks. MRI, PET, and CT scans were coregistered to directly compare the location of language centers determined by cortical stimulation versus activation PET. We found that cortical regions that showed increased cerebral blood flow during both visual and auditory naming tasks were located in the same regions as subdural electrodes which disrupted language during electrical stimulation. Cortical regions underlying electrodes that did not disrupt language also showed no consistent changes in regional cerebral blood flow during PET activation. Used cautiously, PET activation produces language maps similar to those obtained with direct cortical stimulation, with more complete brain coverage and considerably less invasion.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2002

THE LANGUAGE OF SCHIZOPHRENIA AND THE WORLD OF DELUSION.

The bizarre language of schizophrenics is nowadays generally believed to be the meaningless breakdown product of a neurobiological disorder. The psychological significance of hallucinations and delusions also remains mysterious. Verbatim vignettes are presented from an advanced stage of a psychoanalytically informed treatment to illustrate that schizophrenics speak a meaningful language that is syntactically and morphologically similar to ordinary language, but is qualitatively different in terms of semantics and pragmatics. From a semantic perspective the ordinary distinctions between words, things, body states and actions are absent, creating words and sentences that are not representational or symbolic. It is a language of equivalence, immediacy and action as contrasted with a language of self-awareness, thoughtfulness, reflection and communication. From a pragmatic standpoint, because the language of schizophrenia makes no distinction between mind and world, it enables and supports delusional thinking. In order for the psychoanalyst to comprehend what the patient means, and couch interpretations in such a way as to convey the meaning he/she intends, analyst and patient must become aware of their inability to comprehend one another's languages and find a way to bridge the communication barrier.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1990

Thalamic mechanisms in language and rhythm (temporal perception and expression)--comparison of cortical and thalamic damaged patients from the neurobehavioral aspect.

We investigated the relationship between language disturbances and the impairment of rhythmic capabilities (temporal perception & expression) in the patients with thalamic hemorrhage and compared them to patients with cortical lesions to probe the relationship of the thalamus to the mechanism of aphasic symptoms. 101 right-handed individuals, including 12 with thalamic hemorrhage, were studied to analyze language (verbal) and rhythmic (non-verbal) functions. Comparison of left- and right-hemisphere damaged patients revealed significant hypofunction of language and rhythmic capabilities in the group with lesions of left hemisphere. Some correlation could be seen between the rhythm disturbance and the language impairments in terms of severity and types. In contrast, the patients with thalamic hemorrhage showed a dissociation between the severely abnormal rhythm (non-verbal) and milder language (verbal) impairments. The language function values were constantly higher in the cases with thalamic hemorrhage than with cortical damages, while rhythmic capabilities were reduced, a tendency unlike that of the group with cortical damages. These findings suggest that language is primarily a function of the cerebral cortex of the dominant hemisphere, and that the thalamic area, necessary for the timing mechanism (rhythmic function), plays a part in the overall mechanism of aphasic symptomatology.

Adolescent↗

PubMed2006

Dissociated expressive and receptive language functions on magnetoencephalography, functional magnetic resonance imaging, and amobarbital studies. Case report and review of the literature.

Dissociated language functions are largely invalidated by standard techniques such as the amobarbital test and cortical stimulation. Language studies in which magnetoencephalography (MEG) and functional magnetic resonance (fMR) imaging are used to record data while the patient performs lexicosemantic tasks have enabled researchers to perform independent brain mapping for temporal and frontal language functions (MEG is used for temporal and fMR imaging for frontal functions). In this case report, the authors describe a right-handed patient in whom a right-sided insular glioma was diagnosed. The patient had a right-lateralized receptive language area, but expressive language function was identified in the left hemisphere on fMR imaging- and MEG-based mapping. Examinations were performed in 20 right-handed patients with low-grade gliomas (control group) for careful comparison with and interpretation of this patient's results. In these tests, all patients were asked to generate verbs related to acoustically presented nouns (verb generation) for fMR imaging, and to categorize as abstract or concrete a set of visually presented words consisting of three Japanese letters for fMR imaging and MEG. The most prominent display of fMR imaging activation by the verb-generation task was observed in the left inferior and middle frontal gyri in all participants, including the patient presented here. Estimated dipoles identified with the abstract/concrete categorization task were concentrated in the superior temporal and supramarginal gyri in the left hemisphere in all control patients. In this patient, however, the right superior temporal region demonstrated significantly stronger activations on MEG and fMR imaging with the abstract/concrete categorization task. Suspected dissociation of the language functions was successfully mapped with these two imaging modalities and was validated by the modified amobarbital test and the postoperative neurological status. The authors describe detailed functional profiles obtained in this patient and review the cases of four previously described patients in whom dissociated language functions were found.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Automatic disambiguation of morphosyntax in spoken language corpora.

The use of computer tools has led to major advances in the study of spoken language corpora. One area that has shown particular progress is the study of child language development. Although it is now easy to lexically tag every word in a spoken language corpus, one still has to choose between numerous ambiguous forms, especially with languages such as French or English, where more than 70% of words are ambiguous. Computational linguistics can now provide a fully automatic disambiguation of lexical tags. The tool presented here (POST) can tag and disambiguate a large text in a few seconds. This tool complements systems dealing with language transcription and suggests further theoretical developments in the assessment of the status of morphosyntax in spoken language corpora. The program currently works for French and English, but it can be easily adapted for use with other languages. The analysis and computation of a corpus produced by normal French children 2-4 years of age, as well as of a sample corpus produced by French SLI children, are given as examples.

Humans↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Exploring language about families.

When we work with families in health care settings, it is important to be aware of the way we communicate. Often overlooked is how the language we use to describe and understand families affects how we work with them. The language we use in thinking about a family can shape our perceptions of the family and may affect how we approach working with them. The language we use in describing a family to another health care provider can affect how that person will perceive and approach the family. The language families hear us use can affect families' perceptions of themselves, their perceptions of us, and, consequently, how they relate to us. In Project Copernicus' Family Centered Communication Skills: Facilitator's Guide (Edelman, Greenland, & Mills, 1993), an activity entitled "Watch Our Language" explores commonly used negative terminology about families and guidelines for better language. This exercise has been used with groups of nurses and other health care providers at several conferences and has generated thoughtful brainstorming about negative language related to families, its impact on families, and its impact on the nurses working with them. Those participating in the workshops explored better terminology about families and brainstormed a list of selected family strengths which are shared here.

Adult↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of language immersion on communication with Latino patients.

BACKGROUND: In the US, the fastest growing segment of the general pediatric population is Latino children. Language barriers may impede optimal care for these patients. Programs are needed to enhance communication effectiveness with Latino patients. We examined the effect of language immersion training for pediatric faculty on their communication with Latino patients. METHODS: Five general pediatric faculty physicians were sent to Guatemala for a two-week language immersion course and then had monthly one-hour Spanish language meetings for one year. Before and after immersion, six, and twelve months later, their Spanish skills were assessed. Before and after faculty training, Latino parents of pediatric patients were surveyed to assess their trust in and communication with the attending pediatricians. Spanish survey instruments were pilot tested and revised (trust scale alpha = 0.79; communication scale alpha = 0.80). RESULTS: Language proficiency increased for all the faculty participants, from a baseline score of 28% to a post-intervention score of 55%, p < 0.001. This increase in proficiency was sustained six and twelve months after the intervention. General linear modeling with repeated measures was used to examine associations between physician, parent, and clinic variables and the doctor-patient communication and patient trust scores. Even though baseline communication and trust scores were high, both improved after the intervention, p < 0.01. CONCLUSION: A two-week faculty language-training program can improve physician' language skills, communication, and trust between non-Latino doctor and Latino patient. Other measures of cultural competence should be measured and cost-benefit analyses conducted to assess the impact of immersion versus classroom experience.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Suggesting a new European language policy.

Conflict is the most intriguing aspect of contact linguistics. Throughout history ever since the Tower of Babel was left unfinished, contacts between speakers of different languages have unavoidably resulted in conflicts between speakers of those languages. Without any doubt, the European Union (EU)--above all after the decision to enlarge the community--has accepted the multidisciplinary symbolic function of language and culture as a basis for European political unification. Accordingly, European Union policy makers have had to analyze conflicts caused by monolingualism and multilingualism, all aspects of contact linguistics. Can these conflicts be solved, minimized or neutralized by strategies of language planning, language policies and language politics? Initial results of European language policy strategies permit at least a cautious measure of optimism and open broad perspectives for the future of a New Multilingualism which will be discussed in our contribution.

Anthropology, Cultural↗

PubMed1998

[Language comprehension by children with profound congenital deafness after cochlear implant].

The consequences of profound deafness on oral language development in children are drastic and well-known. Modern multichannel cochlear implant (CI) has been proven to enhance speech production skills in prelingually deaf children. Speech production skills, however, are known not to be a reliable reflection of oral language competence as a whole. Language is an acquired common code in a specific group, enabling exchange of ideas, feelings and knowledge. In humans, speech is one of the channels conveying language. Assessing language development in CI children is more difficult than simply assessing speech production skills. Many factors may contribute to a poor or an excellent outcome, making it difficult to compare groups of children wearing or not wearing CI. The present study compared receptive language levels in paired matched children from CI and non-CI groups. The main conclusion of this study is that language comprehension scores grow significantly higher over time post-surgery in CI than in paired-matched non-CI children, despite better initial pure tone audiometric thresholds of the latter.

Audiometry, Pure-Tone↗

PubMed2004

Speech-language and educational consequences of unilateral hearing loss in children.

BACKGROUND: In the past, unilateral hearing loss (UHL) in children was thought to have little consequence because speech and language presumably developed appropriately with one normal-hearing ear. Some studies from the 1980s and 1990s have suggested that a significantly increased proportion of children with UHL may have educational and/or behavioral problems, compared with their normal-hearing peers. Limited data exist about the effect of UHL on acquisition of speech and language skills. OBJECTIVE: To review the current literature about the impact UHL has on the development of speech and language and educational achievement. DATA SOURCE: MEDLINE search between 1966 and June 1, 2003, using the medical subject heading "hearing loss," combined with the textword "unilateral." STUDY SELECTION: Studies were limited to those written in English, reporting speech-language and/or educational results in children. DATA EXTRACTION: Articles were read with attention to study design, population, recruitment of subjects, and outcomes measured. DATA SYNTHESIS: Problems in school included a 22% to 35% rate of repeating at least one grade, and 12% to 41% receiving additional educational assistance. Speech and language delays have been reported in some but not all studies. CONCLUSIONS: School-age children with UHL appear to have increased rates of grade failures, need for additional educational assistance, and perceived behavioral issues in the classroom. Speech and language delays may occur in some children with UHL, but it is unclear if children "catch up" as they grow older. Research into this area is necessary to clarify these issues and to determine whether interventions may prevent potential problems.

Child↗

PubMed2006

A longitudinal functional magnetic resonance imaging study of language development in children 5 to 11 years old.

OBJECTIVE: Language skills continue to develop rapidly in children during the school-age years, and the "snapshot" view of the neural substrates of language provided by current neuroimaging studies cannot capture the dynamic changes associated with brain development. The aim of this study was to conduct a 5-year longitudinal investigation of language development using functional magnetic resonance imaging in healthy children. METHODS: Thirty subjects enrolled at ages 5, 6, or 7 were examined annually for 5 years using a 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging scanner and a verb generation task. Data analysis was conducted based on a general linear model that was modified to investigate developmental changes whereas minimizing the potential for missing data. RESULTS: With increasing age, there is progressive participation in language processing by the inferior/middle frontal, middle temporal, and angular gyri of the left hemisphere and the lingual and inferior temporal gyri of the right hemisphere and regression of participation of the left posterior insula/extrastriate cortex, left superior frontal and right anterior cingulate gyri, and left thalamus. CONCLUSION: The age-related changes observed in this study provide evidence of increased neuroplasticity of language in this age group and may have implications for further investigations of normal and aberrant language development.

Algorithms↗

PubMed1988

Effects of anterior temporal lobectomy on language function: a controlled study.

This study represents the first prospective controlled investigation of preoperative versus postoperative (6 months) language function in patients who underwent partial resection of the dominant (n = 15) or nondominant (n = 14) anterior temporal lobe for treatment of medically refractory epilepsy. Language dominance was confirmed by intracarotid sodium amytal test. Thirteen of the 15 patients undergoing anterior temporal lobectomy of the dominant hemisphere were operated on under local anesthesia in order to map language and memory functions intraoperatively. Using a standardized language/aphasia battery, we found a significant trend of worse preoperative language function in patients with dominant hemisphere temporal lobe foci in comparison to patients with nondominant foci. Following anterior temporal lobectomy, neither group showed any significant losses in language function, whereas the dominant hemisphere temporal lobe group showed significant improvement in receptive language comprehension and associative verbal fluency.

Adult↗