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The Gross Motor Function Measure-88 (GMFM-88) is a standardized observational instrument measuring gross motor function for children with cerebral palsy and Down syndrome. Clinicians in Croatia have been showing a growing interest in GMFM-88. However, only the English version of the measure was available, which possessed a barrier for its use in Croatia. The aim of this study was to translate the GMFM-88 test from English into Croatian and adapt it for use in clinical practice in Croatia. In this study, we followed the first five steps of the Sousa & Rojjanasrirat (2010) guideline for translation and adaptation. First, two authors independently did "forward" translation; a translation of the score sheet from English into Croatian. Then, the third author performed "backward" translation, which was checked and revised by the measure's author. The pre-final version of the translated measure was tested through cognitive debriefing with seven clinicians. Participants pointed out the importance of the consistent use of terms and provided suggestions for improvement, such as changed word order or shortening of the translated items. Seventy two of 88 items were changed. With this study, we have initiated the adaptation of the GMFM-88 to Croatian. The next steps for fully validated GMFM-88 in the Croatian language is to do psychometric testing with children with cerebral palsy and Down syndrome in Croatia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we investigate the interrogative structures in Croatian Sign Language (HZJ) with respect to the word order, manual question words, and nonmanual markers and their scope. Both polar and content questions mainly use specific nonmanual markers to indicate interrogative function. Polar questions use chin down and content questions use chin up as their prominent nonmanual markers. In addition to these markers, brows up occurs in both constructions leading to the suggestion that brows up may be a general question marker in HZJ. Brows down can also occur, particularly in content questions. Other nonmanual markers that appear in polar questions are head forward, and eyes wide open and those in content questions are head forward, headshake, shoulders up, and eyes closed. Both interrogative constructions use manual question words. Polar questions can use an optional manual sign je-li that was probably introduced to HZJ through Signed Croatian. je-li is not connected to the peak intensity of the nonmanual markers and we consider it to be an adjunct to the question structure. Content words are used in most HZJ content interrogatives. Question words can be represented by specific signs or can be formed by the content sign ‘5’ (i.e. handshape 5 or b-th moving side-to-side). This ‘5’ sign is further specified by mouthing the particular question word from spoken Croatian. Content words can appear in sentence initial, sentence final or both positions. In content questions, question words bear the highest peak of nonmanual intensity, thus we consider them to be operating as operators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper focuses on the basic word order of Croatian Sign Language (HZJ) and factors that permit alternative word orders to occur in sentences and in context. Although they are unrelated languages, the basic word order in HZJ is the same as in spoken Croatian: SVO. One of the factors allowing alternative word orders in context is information status (old or new), which influences constituent placement, as in other languages. HZJ has a tendency to omit old, previously mentioned information, usually the Subject, and the part that is expressed is the new information (Rheme). When old information is expressed, it appears at the beginning of the sentence, preceding the Rheme. Like other languages, HZJ word order can be influenced by the nature of the arguments (Subject, Object) as well as the type of Verb. Sentences with ‘reversible’ arguments (i.e. both are animate and could be agents) tend to use the basic word order, whereas those with nonreversible arguments allow more variable word order. Basic word order also occurs more often with plain verbs (those that do not agree with their arguments). Agreeing and spatial verbs use other word orders in addition to SVO, including the tendency to position Verbs at the end of sentences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]