The Iconicity of Picture Communication Symbols for Children with English Additional Language and Mild Intellectual Disability

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the iconicity of 16 Picture Communication Symbols (PCS) presented on a themed bed-making communication overlay for South African children with English as an additional language and mild intellectual disability. The survey involved 30 participants. The results indicated that, overall, the 16 symbols were relatively iconic to the participants. The authors suggest that the iconicity of picture symbols could be manipulated, enhanced, and influenced by contextual effects (other PCS used simultaneously on the communication overlay). In addition, selection of non-target PCS for target PCS were discussed in terms of postulated differences in terms of distinctiveness. Potential clinical implications and limitations of the study, as well as recommendations for future research, are discussed.

Keywords::

• English additional language (EAL)
• Iconicity; Intellectual disability
• Picture Communication Symbols (PCS)
• Distinctiveness
• PCS modification
• PCS removal
• PCS replacement

Acknowledgements

This manuscript is based on the Master's dissertation completed by the second author with the first author as supervisor and the third author as co-supervisor. The authors wish to thank Dr Jennifer Stephenson for her editorial assistance on this manuscript.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflicts of interests. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of this paper.

Authors’ Note

BoardMaker software is available from DynaVox Mayer-Johnson, 2100 Wharton Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15203, USA. http://www.mayer-johnson.com/