Evaluation Devices in the Narratives of Deaf/Hard of Hearing and Hearing Arabic-Speaking Adolescents
- Resource Type
- Journal Articles
Reports - Research
- Authors
- Khaloob Kawar (ORCID 0000-0001-9197-2005); Joel Walters; Sveta Fichman (ORCID 0000-0002-4946-4506)
- Source
- International Journal of Language & Communication Disorders. 2024 59(1):180-194.
- Subject
- Adolescents
Arabic
Speech Communication
Deafness
Hearing Impairments
Hearing (Physiology)
Gender Differences
Assistive Technology
Personal Narratives
Safety
Pragmatics
- Language
- English
- ISSN
- 1368-2822
1460-6984
Background: Pragmatic language use in general and the use of evaluation devices (EDs) are very important components in everyday communication and expressing thoughts and feelings in narrative production. However, very little is known about the use of evaluative devices in the narratives of Arabic-speaking adolescents, especially those who are deaf and hard of hearing (DHH). Aims: The present study investigated the use of EDs in personal oral narratives elicited from 124 hearing and DHH Arabic-speaking adolescents. Methods & Procedures: Each participant was asked to tell a personal story about a time he or she was in a dangerous situation. Narratives were transcribed and coded for nine different types of evaluation. Outcomes & Results: A three-way interaction of group (hearing/DHH) by gender (Female/Male) by evaluation type emerged such that female hearing adolescents' narratives contained significantly more frames of mind than the narratives of DHH females and hearing males and more hedges than DHH females. In addition, hearing males' narratives contained more hedges than those of DHH males and more negative comments than the narratives of both hearing females and DHH males. Conclusions & Implications: The present research identifies factors that facilitate narrative abilities by DHH. Discussion centres on explanations for group and gender differences in terms of exposure and language socialization.