Indonesian Language Performance of Mentally Retarded Children: Reference for Writing Literacy Text Needs

Abstract

This research examines the Indonesian language performance of mentally retarded children by identifying the vocabulary and sentence patterns. These two elements have implications for effective reading speed, which is needed in implementing the school literacy program. Identifying the vocabulary and sentence patterns of mentally retarded children is important to show the causes and overcome the low effective reading speed problems. Based on the data and discussion, the vocabulary is dominated by concrete nouns – monomorphemics, and the dominant sentence pattern is a monoclause – active. Meanwhile, the limitations of abstract thinking trigger the dominance of vocabulary characteristics and sentence patterns. Hence they fail to apply grammatical aspects in forming polymorphemic words and sentences with multiclauses. Text interventions are needed following their Indonesian language performance and repertoire to support their involvement in the school literacy program.