Number Dissimilarity Effects in Object-Initial Sentence Comprehension by German-Speaking Children With Specific Language Impairment

Purpose This study examines the contribution of number morphology to language comprehension abilities among children with specific impairment (SLI) and age-matched controls. It addresses question whether agreement facilitates accuracy object-initial declarative sentences. According predictions structural intervention account for German, should assist correct interpretation Method German-speaking SLI a control group typically developing on their sentence skills auditory presented subject–verb–object object–verb–subject (OVS) The sentences were manipulated respect properties noun phrases (e.g., one plural singular, or both singular) verb. Results demonstrated poorer in comparison Comprehension difficulty was limited OVS SLI. In addition, comprehended which (with subject verb inflection) indicated noncanonical word order more accurately than two singular therein did not differ from Conclusion suggests that helps alleviate enhances accuracy, despite finding exhibit lower heterogeneous interindividual differences, relative Supplemental Material https://doi.org/10.23641/asha.13718029