Lecture on Bilingualism, Culture, and Communication Disorders

Introduction

• Speaker: Melissa Pierce, a third year PhD student in Speech and Hearing Science, bilingual speech-language pathologist.
• Discusses her background and experience in speech-language pathology, emphasizing her work with bilingual children.
• Mentions Dr. Restrepo as an influential figure in her academic journey.

Personal Background

• Education: Bachelor's in Spanish, Master's in Speech-Language Pathology.
• Work Experience: Boston Public Schools (via Bilingual Therapies), Peace Corps in Peru, worked in China with children of diplomats.
• Realized the lack of research on bilingual children compared to monolingual.

Lecture Overview

• Key Topics: Definitions of culture and language, types of bilingualism, communication disorders specific to bilingual populations, language policies.
• Main Question: What happens if there is a cultural or language mismatch in clinical or educational settings?

Culture and Language

• Definitions: Culture encompasses values, traditions, language, and social norms.
• Influence on Language Development: Sociolinguistics, dialects, linguistic diversity beyond the common languages in Arizona.
• Cultural Differences: Collective vs. individualistic cultures, impact on communication styles and behaviors.

Types of Bilingualism

• Simultaneous vs. Sequential: Simultaneous (languages learned before age 3-4), Sequential (L2 learned after L1).
• Other Types: Circumstantial (due to life circumstances), Elective (chosen learning), Broad vs. Narrow views of bilingualism.

Bilingualism and Communication Disorders

• Assessment Challenges: Over and under-identification due to lack of understanding of bilingual development.
• Language Transfer & Development: Influence of L1 on L2 and vice versa, including positive, negative transfer, attrition, incomplete acquisition.

Clinical Considerations

• Assessment: Use of bilingual assessments, challenges with standardized tests normed on monolingual speakers.
• Proficiency Levels: Importance of understanding language dominance, impact of proficiency on assessment.
• Cultural Competency: Importance of culturally appropriate services, ASHA guidelines on bilingual services.

Language Policy

• Impact of Policies: English-only policies, dual language programs, their influence on academic and cultural identity.
• Societal Attitudes: Mixed messages regarding home languages and the value of bilingualism.

Recommendations and Resources

• ASHA and Other Resources: Encouragement to explore resources for cultural competence and bilingual services.
• Importance of Diversity: Need for diverse representation in speech-language pathology to understand and serve varied populations effectively.

Conclusion

• Key Takeaways: Understanding and respecting cultural and linguistic differences are crucial in avoiding misdiagnosis and in providing effective services.
• Final Thoughts: Emphasis on developing cultural awareness and removing personal biases to view other cultures accurately.

This lecture provides a comprehensive overview of the intersection between bilingualism, culture, and communication disorders, with practical insights for future speech-language pathologists and audiologists.