Translation and adaptation of adolescent language test in Marathi

AbstractPurpose:Adolescents belong to the age group between 12 and 20 years, during which later language development takes place across all the domains of language that encompass metalinguistic, cognitive, and social advancements. This development impacts both the social and academic achievements of adolescents. Due to the non-availability of validated tools to assess the Marathi language spoken by adolescents, there is a paucity of information on the development of language in the population.Materials and Methods:The items of “Manipal Manual of Adolescent Language Assessment” for the age range 10-13 years were translated and adapted in Marathi and were administered to 162 adolescents (10-13 years) attending Marathi medium schools to determine its psychometric properties.Results:The translated and adapted tests had good internal consistency (Cronbach α > 0.7) and discriminant validity. The criteria for determination of language age of the original test are applicable, except for the task of morphological derivations in both auditory and visual domains, where the criteria have been modified.Conclusion:The translated and adapted MMALA can be used for assessment of language of Marathi-speaking adolescents attending Marathi medium schools in the age range of 10-13 years.