As a speech pathologist, it is important to know the difference between a language disorder and a language difference. A Language Disorder is a deficit in producing and comprehending language. A language difference is a style of language that differs from the standard dialect of mainstream culture. For example, a person who lives in Mississippi may speak differently than a person from Ohio. Both individuals speak English the region’s they are from have structural differences and language usage rules. This is an ethical concern with students who are bilingual in particular because a language difference does not mean that the child has a deficit and needs therapy.
In “Speech-Language Pathology Students Awareness of Language Differences Versus Language Disorders” by Levy and Sola, the authors examine how much Speech Pathologist actually know about the differences between language difference’s verses language disorders. They gathered 124 students majoring in Speech Pathology and gave them a questionnaire about bilingualism and dialectal differences. 80% of the participants were bilingual as well. Questions were pulled from a speech pathology text book and included general statements bilingual speakers and linguistic questions about bilingual and dialectal differences. The examples were based of the African …show more content…
Clinicians who lived outside of the United States and were bilingual also had a higher rate of accuracy in the identification of a language difference. Since there are few studies on Language Differences there is limited statistical data available to the researcher. It fails to mention the other common dialectal differences. However, there is enough evidence to support the claim that by educating SLP’s about language differences they will provide better
In “Speech-Language Pathology Students Awareness of Language Differences Versus Language Disorders” by Levy and Sola, the authors examine how much Speech Pathologist actually know about the differences between language difference’s verses language disorders. They gathered 124 students majoring in Speech Pathology and gave them a questionnaire about bilingualism and dialectal differences. 80% of the participants were bilingual as well. Questions were pulled from a speech pathology text book and included general statements bilingual speakers and linguistic questions about bilingual and dialectal differences. The examples were based of the African …show more content…
Clinicians who lived outside of the United States and were bilingual also had a higher rate of accuracy in the identification of a language difference. Since there are few studies on Language Differences there is limited statistical data available to the researcher. It fails to mention the other common dialectal differences. However, there is enough evidence to support the claim that by educating SLP’s about language differences they will provide better