Laura Benincasa
Confronting Complex Syntax in DLD and ASD: Evidence from the Processing of Passive Sentences
Research on passive sentence acquisition has found that these non-canonical structures present particular challenges in both typical and atypical language development, due to their syntactic complexity. My research project investigates how monolingual Italian-speaking children with syntactic Developmental Language Disorder (SyDLD) and those with Autism Spectrum Disorder and Language Impairment (ASD-LI) comprehend and produce different types of Italian passive constructions. The study aims to determine whether the two clinical groups demonstrate similar behavior—potentially indicating overlapping syntactic difficulties—or whether their error patterns differ significantly, strongly suggesting distinct underlying mechanisms.
Research Interests
Language Acquisition; Psycholinguistics; Language Processing; Syntax; Developmental Language Disorder (DLD); Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)