Language Impairment in a Multilingual Society: Linguistic Patterns and the Road to Assessment

Project leader: Dr. Sharon Armon-Lotem, Dr. Jasmina Vuksanović

Project collaborators: Dr. Jovana Bjekić, Dr. Marko Živanović

Project number: IS0804

Duration of the project: 2012-2015.

Leading institution: Bar Ilan University, University of Amsterdam, University of Zagreb, University of Cyprus, Cyprus university of technology, Aalborg University, University of Oulu, University of Helsinki, University of Tours, François Rabelais University, Goethe-University, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Hungarian Research Centre for Linguistics, University College Cork, Tel Aviv University, University of Siena, University of Padova, Vytautas Magnus University, University of Luxembourg Campus Walferdange, University of Malta, University of Bergen, Bredtvet Resource Centre, University of Warsaw, Institute of Psychology – Jagiellonian University, Faculdade de Ciências Sociais e Humanas – Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Ministério da Educação /Gabinete do Secretário de Estado Adjunto e da Educação, Intercommunitary Development Association EURONEST / Asociatia de Dezvoltare Intercomunitara EURONEST, University „Al.I. Cuza”, Institute of Medical Research – University of Belgrade, Faculty of Education Bratislava, Presov University in Presov – Philosophical Faculty, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, University Jaume I Riu Sec, Lund University, Stockholm University, Bogazici university, Newcastle University, Istanbul Medipol University, University of Reading – Department of Clinical Language Sciences, School of Psychology & Clinical Language Sciences, University of Zagreb, Universitaire du Pont de Bois, Universite de tours, University of Education Heidelberg, University of Bremen, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, National University of Ireland Galway, Vytautas Magnus University, Afdeling Neerlandistiek, Faculty of Psychology – Warsaw University, Skane University Hospital, St.Petersburg State Pediatric Medical University, Universite Saint Joseph, Academy of Albanian Studies – Institute of Linguistics and Literature, University of Minnesota, Arizona State University, Stellenbosch University, University of Alberta, The Promise Foundation

Description of the project:

Second language learners often produce language patterns resembling those of children with Specific Language Impairment (SLI). The overlap among the features of bilingual and impaired language lead to methodological and clinical confusion, which this Action aimed to resolve in order to improve language assessment. The project gathered scientist form over 20 countries to work within four main groups: WG1: Syntax and inferences with morphology and semantics; WG2 Narrative and discourse; WG3 Lexical and phonological processing; and WG 4 Executive functions. One of the major outcomes of the collaboration was the development of Cross-Linguistic Lexical Tasks (LITMUS – CLTs), that is now available in 15 languages.

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