El idioma miskito: estado de la lengua y características tipológicas

El estudio describe las principales características tipológicas del miskito, mediante algunas comparaciones con otras lenguas de la familia misumalpa. Hecha una reseña de su situación histórica, geográfica y sociolingüística, se exponen los aspectos centrales del trabajo, referidos a la fonología, la morfología y la sintaxis de la lengua. El estudio concluye señalando la importancia de proteger el patrimonio lingüístico y cultural de las poblaciones indígenas centroamericanas.This study addresses the main typological characteristics of Miskito, by comparing it with other languages of the Misumalpan family. Beginning with a summary of its historical, geographical and sociolinguistic situation, a description is provided of the main aspects of the analysis, concerning the phonology, morphology and syntax of the language. The study concludes by emphasizing the importance of protecting the linguistic and cultural heritage of the Central American indigenous populations.

Fiber Pathways for Language in the Developing Brain: A Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) Study

The present study characterized two fiber pathways important for language, the superior longitudinal fasciculus/arcuate fasciculus (SLF/AF) and the frontal aslant tract (FAT), and related these tracts to speech, language, and literacy skill in children five to eight years old. We used Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI) to characterize the fiber pathways and administered several language assessments. The FAT was identified for the first time in children. Results showed no age-related change in integrity of the FAT, but did show age-related change in the left (but not right) SLF/AF. Moreover, only the integrity of the right FAT was related to phonology but not audiovisual speech perception, articulation, language, or literacy. Both the left and right SLF/AF related to language measures, specifically receptive and expressive language, and language content. These findings are important for understanding the neurobiology of language in the developing brain, and can be incorporated within contemporary dorsal-ventral-motor models for language.