SALT

Question 1

Systematic Analysis of Language Transcripts

Answer 1

• computerized language sample analysis
• provides a series of standard analysis at the word, morpheme, utterance, and discourse level
• with software you can compare transcripts from the database or from the same speaker
• can transcribe samples of Spanish

Question 2

steps of SALT

Answer 2

• collect
• transcribe/code
• analyze
• interpret

Question 3

step 1 of SALT

Answer 3

-sampling context
-conversation (2:8-13:3)
-narratives- SSS (5;2-13:3) or retells (4;4-10;0)
-expository (12;7-15;9)
sample size= min of 50 utterances

Question 4

conversation

Answer 4

-messages exchanged on topic
-utterance level, formulated spontaneously
-social reponsiveness
-questions asked and answered
-controlled by discourse rules
use background knowledge to find something to talk about that the child is interested in

Question 5

narration

Answer 5

• retelling and event, experience, story, play, movie or tv show
• has a structure: introduction, characters, conflicts and resolutions, mental states, conclusions
• requires organization: beginning, middle, end, cohesion, referencing, listener perspective

Question 6

exposition

Answer 6

-the imparting of info
-explain how to do something: play a game, perform an activity
better for an older child

Question 7

materials to elicit sample

Answer 7

• audio recorder and video recorder
• quiet area
• books, pictures, or other items to elicit samples

Question 8

eliciting the sample

Answer 8

• show interest
• be enthusiastic
• be patient
• follow the childs lead
• use open ended prompts
• refrain from yes/no and specific “wh” questions
• ask age appropriate questions and avoid questions when the speaker knows you already have the answer

Question 9

what makes a valid and reliable sample?

Answer 9

• examiner follows elicitation procedures
• elicitation protocol challenges the speakers production abilities
• speaker produces a sample that is representative of his/her abilities
• at least 80% of the sample is intelligible

Question 10

step 2- transcribe

Answer 10

• analysis of your language sample is dependent on the integrity of the transcript
• limited number of transcription conventions make transcribing easy to learn
• SALT transcripts are easy to read

Question 11

transcript header

Answer 11

• will vary depending on information you chose to fill in
• speaker label line begins with a $
• identification lines begin with + and contain target speakers gender, name, age and coding information
• initial timing line begins with a hypen -

Question 12

SALT transcription

Answer 12

-what is a word?
-transcribe using standard orthography
-transcribe the words but not the pronunciation used by the speaker
what is an utterance?
-utterances are divided into c-units
-c-units are a main (independent) clause with all dependent clauses

Question 13

SALT utterance format

Answer 13

-type language sample into computer following SALT transcript-entry conventions
utterance format:
-begin each utterance with the speaker ID, followed by a blank space, followed by the exact words of that speaker
-each utterance is entered on a separate line and ended with a punctuation mark
-long utterances will automatically wrap, only press enter at the end of the utterance

Question 14

SALT- utterance punctuation

Answer 14

statements end with a period or exclamation

• questions and tag questions end with a question mark
• abandoned utterances end with a great thin sign >
• interrupted utterances end with a ^
• commas and quotes are used freely

Question 15

FANBOYS

Answer 15

for, and, nor, but, or, yet, so

Question 16

mazes

Answer 16

repetitions, revisions, false starts and filled pauses

Question 17

step 3- analysis

Answer 17

check for errors

• compare to age-matched peers
• generate standard measures
• generate supporting reports
• file- print transcript `

Question 18

database menu

Answer 18

compares transcript to a reference database of standardized SALT transcriptions- provides means, range and standard deviations

Question 19

analysis menu

Answer 19

available to analyze transcript by itself or database

Question 20

explore menu

Answer 20

available to select specific words and/or utterance found in the transcript

Question 21

link feature

Answer 21

compares the analysis from any 2 transcripts.. generally from the same speaker
-to track progress

Question 22

negative SD values

Answer 22

MLU, NDW, TTR, ETC= problem

Question 23

positive SD values

Answer 23

mazes, pauses, abandoned utterances, errors = problem

Question 24

analyze menu

Answer 24

contains an assortment of standard analyses which may provide additional insight into the speaker’s performance

Question 25

step 4- interpretation

Answer 25

- provides profile strengths and weaknesses or oral language performance - provides speaker raw score and SD for each measure - the profile of scores allows the clinician to differentiate between disorders - MUST use your knowledge of language development to interpret - compare to typical peers

Question 26

delayed language characteristics

Answer 26

- low MLU, NDW, NTW, TTR(depending on the age) - speaking rate is often low - mulitple erors at the word and utterance level evident - for younger children, frequent omissions of bound morphemes and aux verbs - simple syntax-shorter sentences with sparse vocab

Question 27

word retrieval and utterance formulation characteristics

Answer 27

- high mazes - repetitions and revisions - abandoned utterances - high or long pause rates - word order difficulties - word omissions and word choice errors

Question 28

discourse deficits

Answer 28

- high overlapping speech on part of speaker - high interruptions - analysis of responses to examiner questions - poor topic maintenance - discourse/turn taking - length of responses- long

Question 29

narrative analysis

Answer 29

- scope and sequence of narrative weak - characters may be left out - conflicts and/or resolution may be missing - high number of pauses within and between utterances - high maze value - non-specfic referencing

Question 30

semantic or reference difficulties

Answer 30

- small vocab - NDW and NTW (in 5+) - overuse of pronouns - indefinite reference to thing, stuff, and you know - overgeneralization, word choice errors - redundancy