Some Aspects of Communication in Down's Syndrome*

ABSTRACT Communication with retarded people is often a problem because of their inadequate command of language. However, studies of their linguistic competence have to be supplemented by research on how different aspects of their linguistic deficiency affect their communication and by research on how they overcome their problems with language. Results of two experiments are reported. In the first, it was found that clarity of their speech did not affect the frequency with which they used speech. In the second experiment, it was shown that mongols are socially sensitive but that they express this in NVC rather than by changing the pattern of their verbal communication.