Working with Bosnians: A Guide for Speech-Language Pathologists By Maja Kantic WORKING WITH BOSNIANS: A GUIDE FOR SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS A Research Report Submitted In Partial Fulfillment Of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts Maja Kantic University of Northern Iowa November 2011 APPROVAL SHEET Title: WORKING WITH BOSNIANS: A GUIDE FOR SPEECH-LANGUAGE PATHOLOGISTS Name of Candidates: Maja Kantic Research Project Approved: Kenneth Bleile, Ph.D., CCC-SLP Research Director Angela Burda, Ph.D., CCC-SLP Second Reader Date Working with Bosnians: A Guide for Speech Language Pathologists When I was five years old, a dreadful war broke out in my country. Many know this as the Bosnian War. As a child I left my home and family, I felt hunger, loneliness, and fear. I heard bombs explode, slept on the floor to avoid gunshots, and listened to my grandmother cry as she read letters from her sons that were captured and in concentration camps. But nonetheless, I consider myself lucky; I never lost anyone to the war and I am still alive to tell the story so many could not. As a little girl I traveled a lot and discovered a world that exposed me to a variety of different languages and unique people. In the seventeen years since I have been away from home, I have learned to appreciate the need for communication, which not only entails language and speech, but also is the human way of surviving. I have learned the importance and effect that culture has on people, and believe knowing the background of culturally and linguistically diverse clients is the key to successful treatment. Since the end of the Bosnian War, many Bosnians have relocated. However, their war horrors have not. The war consumes the minds of many to this day and their yearning for home and culture grows day by day. Incorporating culture and traditions has always been a part of speech and language therapy, even when we don’t realize it. We form lesson plans based on traditions that interest, engage, and represent our clients. Although, I was born in Bosnia, grew up in Germany, and became an adult in America, I consider myself Bosnian. My country is very important to me and through these series of modulars I want share my country’s beauty with you. These modulars are designed to help you learn about Bosnia, its culture, people, and experiences. This information is intended to be used as a tool when working with Bosnian clients, whose experiences, culture, and traditions need be considered when assessing and treating for speech and language services. You will be directed through the sections, but always feel free to expand upon any topic that holds particular interest to you. Upon completion of these modulars, you will have insights and resources to help you effectively assess and treat Bosnian clients. Organization of Modulars: Why Bosnians? Working with Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Clients Bosnia Bosnian Culture Bosnian Religion Bosnian Language Bosnian War Acknowledgements: I owe my deepest gratitude to my parents, Asima and Jasmin, and brother, Dino for making this research project possible. Without your irrevocable love and guidance I would not be the person I am today. A sincere thank you to Elvis Alicic, a person who has given me unconditional support and love. It is an honor for me to work with Dr. Kenneth Bleile, a man who makes brilliant look easy, and to be part of the University of Northern Iowa speech pathology program that has challenged and enriched my studies. Why Bosnians? Have you had the opportunity to observe, hear, or work with clients whose primary language is other than English? If you haven’t yet, you probably will. Many immigrants and refugees have come to the U.S. over the years and to this day America is becoming increasingly diverse. The United States has resettled more than 2 million refugees since the passage of the Refugee Act of 1980 (Schaefer, 2008). Bosnian Muslims, who began arriving in the U.S. in the 1990s to escape persecution at home, have settled in many U.S. states. The largest wave of Bosnian refugees came to the U.S. in the years immediately following the war (Coughlan, 2006). According to the U.S. Department of State, approximately 107,000 Bosnian refugees had arrived in the United States by the year 2000 (Schaefer, 2008). Despite the increasing number of Bosnians living in the U.S., there is limited knowledge about cultural perspectives and experiences of Bosnians. This series of modulars explores Bosnians, in terms of culture, religion, language, and the personal experiences that have uniquely defined them. References: Coughlan, R. (2006). Bosnian refugees in America: New communities, new cultures. New York, NY: Springer. Schaefer, R. T. (2008). Encyclopedia of race, ethnicity, and society. Los Angeles, CA: SAGE Publications. Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Culturally and linguistically diverse (CLD) clients come from a wide range of socioeconomic circumstances, educational and cultural-linguistic backgrounds, and personal experiences (Shipley & McAfee, 2009). Speech language pathologist must be prepared to provide services that are responsive to diversity to ensure efficacy. Evaluating clients with a multicultural- linguistic background requires research in advance. Without these preassessment procedures, diagnostic conclusions may be incomplete or incorrect. A critical aspect of assessment is differentiating between a communicative disorder and a communicative difference. First, let us visit the following links to learn more about these two terms: http://www.suite101.com/content/defining-language-disorders-and-language- differences-a233259 http://www.asha.org/docs/html/RP1993-00208.html Now let us look at the knowledge and skills needed by speech language pathologists to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services: http://www.asha.org/docs/html/KS2004-00215.html Working with culturally and linguistically diverse clients can be time consuming because it requires assessing performance in both languages. Each language and culture is unique, yet the knowledge you have gained in this modular can be applied to every client. References: American Speech Language Hearing Association. (2004). Knowledge and skills needed by speech-language pathologists and audiologists to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services [Knowledge and Skills]. Retrieved from http://www.asha.org/docs/html/RP1993-00208.html American Speech Language Hearing Association. (2004). Knowledge and skills needed by speech-language pathologists and audiologists to provide culturally and linguistically appropriate services [Knowledge and Skills]. Retrieved from http://www.asha.org/docs/html/KS2004-00215.html Hooks, J. (2010). Defining language disorders and language differences. Retrieved from the Suite101 website: http://jennifer-hooks.suite101.com/defining-language-disorders-and- language-differences-a233259 Shipley, K. G. & McAfee, J. G. (2009). Assessment in speech-language pathology: A resource manual (4th ed.) Clifton Park, NY: Delmar Cengage Learning. Please take the following quiz: Key Elements Quiz 1. What is the difference between a communicative disorder and a communicative difference? 2. Cultural diversity can result from many factors and influences including ethnicity, religious beliefs, sexual orientation, socioeconomic levels, regionalisms, age-based peer groups, educational background, and mental/physical disability. TRUE/FALSE 3. What are the roles of clinicians who do not have native or near-native proficiency in the language/dialect spoken or signed by the client/patient? 4. Phonemic and allophonic variations of the language(s) and/or dialect(s) spoken in the client's/patient's speech community and how those variations affect a determination of disorder or difference is an important task that needs to be considered when working with CLD clients. TRUE/FALSE 5. Define Bilingualism. Answers: 1. Disorder: Marked by affected speech, language, or both. Difference: A language difference is identified as a different dialect, native language, or second language that results in a different pronunciation, production, or construction of language. 2. TRUE. 3. Obtaining information on the features and developmental characteristics of the language(s)/dialect(s) spoken or signed by the client/patient (see Language section)/ Obtaining information on the sociolinguistic features of the client's/patient's significant cultural and linguistic influences./ Developing appropriate collaborative relationships with translators/interpreters (professional or from the community). 4. TRUE. 5. Bilingualism: The use of at least two languages by an individual. The degree of proficiency in the languages can range from a person in the initial stages of acquisition of two languages to a person who speaks, understands, reads, and writes two languages at native or near-native proficiency. Bosnia and Herzegovina: “Oh, that’s where the war was” Many know Bosnia and Herzegovina only as the country where the war happened—a country of ruins that hit the international headlines for its war and for atrocities committed during the war. But what about its land and picturesque scenery? We will review the geography of Bosnia and Herzegovina in this modular to get a better idea of where it is situated and what it looks like. Bosnia and Herzegovina is a country located in southeastern Europe. It was formed in the fourteenth century when the state of Bosnia joined with a southern territory, later called Herzegovina. Today, the country