The semantic structure in deaf children.

The investigation proposed to qualify the semantic structure of the language of 33 deaf children utilizing the semantic differential procedure. The ratings of the deaf children were analyzed using factor analysis. The results revealed that the semantic system of the deaf children contained the Evaluation and Potency dimensions evident in the semantic systems of normal hearing children as reported by DiVesta (1966). Several other factors reliably demonstrated by others to be included in the meaning systems of normal hearing children, however, were not evident in the meaning systems of these deaf children.