Observations on Elicited Language Imitation with the Severely Retarded

Word, phrase, and sentence imitation responses by 42 institutionalized, severely retarded adolescents were examined with a view to validity of imitation in language assessment with the retarded, and for developmental characteristics of language processing by retarded speakers. High response consistency in imitation, and semantic and syntactic substitutions were interpreted as evidence of internalized control of grammar by these speakers. A mental-age but not chronological-age correlation with imitation ability was found. One third of the speakers did not produce good imitations for three-word, Subject-Verb-Object phrases; speakers who did produce good imitations of such phrases could also imitate longer phrases and sentences. Evidence of metalinguistic awareness was presented, and results and teaching implications were discussed in terms of speakers' ability to process basic semantic relationships.