The influence of aphasia, familiarity and activity on conversational repair

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Abstract
This study investigated the influence of aphasia, familiarity and activity on conversational repair in interactions between nine aphasic individuals and 18 normal subjects (nine of whom lived with the aphasic subjects, and nine of whom were visiting the aphasic subjects). Data were collected in the homes of the aphasic subjects, and comprised unstructured conversation, semi-structured interaction involving retelling the events witnessed in a mock car accident, and structured testing. Conversation Analysis investigated the frequency of interactive trouble-indicating behaviour (metalinguistic comment and hypothesis forming per minute), and the nature of repair pattern (proportional pattern of repair trajectories used). Normal subjects increased their frequency of interactive trouble-indicating behaviour, and used more interactive repair patterns when conversing with aphasic partners as compared with when conversing with normal partners. The difference in familiarity between subjects did not appear to affect the frequency of interactive trouble-indicating behaviour, but it was noted that ‘visiting’ subjects tended to make more use of ‘other repair’ patterns than did subjects living with aphasic individuals. Conversational repair was found to differ across activities. The theoretical and clinical implications are discussed.