Discourse sampling in the 21st century

Area of Science:

• Linguistics
• Speech-Language Pathology
• Neurology

Background:

• Discourse analysis is vital for assessing neurogenic language disorders but often underutilized by speech-language pathologists due to perceived complexity and numerous available methods.
• Clinicians face challenges selecting appropriate discourse assessment measures and identifying effective treatment targets.
• Existing methods like T-unit analysis or Pragmatic Protocol checklists offer limited guidance for comprehensive evaluation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To demonstrate that various levels of discourse analysis are feasible for clinicians working with neurogenic language disorders.
• To advocate for sampling diverse discourse genres within clinical settings.
• To explore the benefits of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) for a structured approach to discourse analysis.

Main Methods:

• Review of existing discourse analysis techniques and their application in clinical settings.
• Discussion on the importance of considering communication partner interactions in assessment.
• Exploration of Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) as a theoretical framework for discourse evaluation.

Main Results:

• Multiple levels and genres of discourse analysis can be effectively employed in clinical practice.
• The communication partner's role significantly impacts discourse opportunities and assessment outcomes.
• Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) provides a robust framework for analyzing discourse complexity and function.

Conclusions:

• Discourse analysis is an accessible and essential tool for speech-language pathologists assessing neurogenic language disorders.
• Clinicians should utilize a range of discourse analysis methods and consider diverse communication partners for comprehensive client evaluation.
• Systemic Functional Linguistics (SFL) offers valuable theoretical and practical benefits for discourse analysis in neurogenic communication impairments.