Spatial Language Development in Preschool Mandarin-Speaking Children with Hearing Loss

Xinxin Shan; Xin’ai Liang; Tianjiao Li; Gengsheng Xiao

doi:10.6918/IJOSSER.202512_8(12).0006

Authors

Xinxin Shan
Xin’ai Liang
Tianjiao Li
Gengsheng Xiao

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.6918/IJOSSER.202512_8(12).0006

Keywords:

Mandarin-speaking children with hearing loss, Spatial language, Serial verb constructions (SVCs), Clause packaging, Motion-verb diversity

Abstract

This study compares preschool children with hearing loss (HI) and typically developing (TD) peers in Mandarin spatial language, focusing on motion expressions. Using a picture-book elicitation task, we transcribed children’s narratives and derived three measures: motion-clause productivity, clause packaging, and motion-verb diversity. A staged separation emerged across ages four to six. TD children consistently produced more motion clauses. Syntactically, SVCs remained the default for TD children, whereas HI children showed a gradual decline in SVC use with age — evidence of weaker consolidation of this Mandarin-specific pattern as discourse demands increased. Lexically, the groups appeared similar early on but diverged by the end of the preschool window, with TD children displaying a broader and more differentiated motion-verb repertoire. Overall, HI children demonstrated early access to the relevant forms but slower consolidation, identifying clear targets for monitoring and support.

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