Variations in aphasic language behaviors.

Publication/Presentation Date

5-1-1988

Abstract

This study reports intraindividual variations in the semantic and syntactic complexity of language and in the linguistic errors produced by mildly and moderately impaired aphasic and nonneurologically impaired control subjects in different communication contexts. Aphasic patients, compared to control subjects, evidenced as many, if not more, linguistic variations in response to changing communication requirements. In conditions that restricted visual contact between speaker and listener, aphasic patients produced fewer communicative gestures and more complex verbalizations. Verbal complexity and language errors also varied significantly with different contents of communication. Measures of verbal complexity and errors in verbal communications were found to vary independently across different communication contexts, contents, and tasks. These findings demonstrate that despite their linguistic impairments, aphasic patients show appropriate and predictable linguistic changes in response to nonlinguistic social contextual variables.

Volume

53

Issue

2

First Page

115

Last Page

124

ISSN

0022-4677

Disciplines

Medicine and Health Sciences | Psychiatry

PubMedID

3361853

Department(s)

Department of Psychiatry

Document Type

Article

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