Conversational dynamics between aphasics

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Abstract
The aim of this study was to determine how aphasic patients take part in conversations, the manner in which their conversations proceed, and how they compensate for their disabilities in maintaining conversational flow. The aphasia group studied contained five aphasics with different symptoms. Four conversations (54 minutes) were videotaped through a one-way mirror and subsequently transcribed. The analysis was based on a seven-category system (moves) and conversational flow was described in terms of active and reactive utterances. The results showed that, using the number of moves and total speech time as criteria, individual speakers varied greatly in their degree of participation in discussions and had different interactive profiles. The speakers were divided into two groups according to the type and severity of aphasia. It was discovered that the groups did not differ in conversational behaviour in terms of active and reactive moves, but the non-fluent speakers differed from the fluent aphasics in their use of deviant conversational moves. There was therefore no clear relation between the type and severity of aphasia and participation in discussions. Implications for aphasia therapy are discussed.

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