Published: 2024-06-21

Derivational competence in people with moderate intellectual disabilities: A case study of young adults

Natalia Siudzińska

Abstract

The article focuses on the derivational competencies in young adults with moderate intellectual disabilities (ID). The linguistic material for the study consisted of statements from 10 individuals aged 18-24. The ability to create derivatives and to recognize word-formation structure was evaluated across five categories of derivatives: two modification categories (feminatives derived from masculine names, diminutives) and three mutation categories (agentive names, instrument names, and place names). The responses of the participants were analysed in terms of the following criteria: whether the answer was consistent / inconsistent with the presented pattern; whether the created derivative was a potential formation / occasionalism / neologism, or was based on the associations of the respondent; whether the derivative / paraphrase were replaced by a description or a definition in the respondent’s answer; whether the response included a full or partial repetition of the instruction. In terms of creating derivatives, participants scored about 60% of correct responses. As for paraphrasing derivatives, participants had no trouble identifying the word-formation base, but were unable to specify the meaning of the affix. In cases of incorrect responses, individuals with ID mainly referred to their associations and provided synonymous terms.

Keywords:

intellectual disability, word formation, mutational derivatives, modification derivatives

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Citation rules

Siudzińska, N. (2024). Derivational competence in people with moderate intellectual disabilities: A case study of young adults. Poradnik Językowy, 813(4), 26–46. Retrieved from https://journals.polon.uw.edu.pl/index.php/pj/article/view/1333

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