Non-Fluent Aphasia in a Multilingual World (Studies in Speech Pathology and Clinical Linguistics)

This text provides an introduction to the language of patients with non-fluent aphasia. The recent surge of research in languages other than English has challenged old descriptions: while aphasia syndromes can be recognized across languages, the structure of a language has a profound effect on aphasic symptoms. However the concepts needed to understand this research have rarely been part of the training of the clinician. This volume introduces these concepts in the context of dozens of examples from the narratives and conversations of patients speaking most of the major languages of Europe, North America and Asia. Linguistic and clinical terms are carefully defined and kept as theory-neutral as possible. The symptoms are presented, not as problems of English speakers, but as problems which can be found in non-fluent aphasics generally. Guidelines are provided for generalizing from the languages discussed to other languages which have similar structures. This text should be particularly useful for speech-language pathologists whose patients are immigrants or guest-workers. These therapists must determine the type and severity of aphasia in both the first and the second language, even when the first language is unfamiliar. If first-language therapy is indicated, it must be planned so that it can be carried out by family or other support services. The book is also intended for the clinician who must deal creatively with the challenges of providing aphasia diagnosis and therapy in a multicultural, multidialectal setting, as is increasingly mandated by professional organizations.