title: Speech Acts During Friends' and Non-friends' Spontaneous Conversations in Preschool Dyads with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorder versus Typical Development.
abstract: In this study, we videotaped two 10-min. free-play interactions and coded speech acts (SAs) in peer talk of 51 preschoolers (21 ASD, 30 typical), interacting with friend versus non-friend partners. Groups were matched for maternal education, IQ (verbal/nonverbal), and CA. We compared SAs by group (ASD/typical), by partner's friendship status (friend/non-friend), and by partner's disability status. Main results yielded a higher amount and diversity of SAs in the typical than the ASD group (mainly in assertive acts, organizational devices, object-dubbing, and pretend-play); yet, those categories, among others, showed better performance with friends versus non-friends. Overall, a more nuanced perception of the pragmatic deficit in ASD should be adopted, highlighting friendship as an important context for children's development of SAs.
authors.affiliation: School of Education, Bar-Ilan University, 52900, Ramat-Gan, Israel. nirit.bauminger@biu.ac.il.
authors.forename: Nirit
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-8153-3575
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bauminger-Zviely
authors.affiliation: School of Education, Bar-Ilan University, 52900, Ramat-Gan, Israel.
authors.forename: Adi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Golan-Itshaky
authors.affiliation: Ono Academic College, Kiryat Ono, Israel.
authors.forename: Gila
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tubul-Lavy
mesh_terms: D000067877:Autism Spectrum Disorder / Q000523:psychology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003142:Communication; D005260:Female; D033062:Friends / Q000523:psychology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010379:Peer Group; D012919:Social Behavior; D013060:Speech
keywords: Friendship; High-functioning children with autism spectrum disorder (HFASD); Peer talk; Pragmatics; Speech acts