Exploring Verb Use in Conversational Discourse Produced by Individuals with Right Hemisphere Disorder

Nicholas Giunta

Co-Presenters: Erin Smith

College: College of Health Professions and Human Services

Major: MA.SPEECH-LNGPATH

Faculty Research Mentor: Akers, Christa  

Abstract:

Right Hemisphere Disorder (RHD) results from damage to the right hemisphere of the brain, often following a stroke. Individuals with RHD typically present with impairments in pragmatics and social communication as opposed to core linguistic deficits. Typically-documented deficits include tangentiality, impaired topic maintenance, reduced coherence, and increased difficulty conveying intended meaning. Because these deficits are subtle and occur at higher levels of language use, they are less likely to be captured by traditional standardized language assessments, often leading to under-identification of communication impairments in this population.During conversation, verbs are essential because they express actions, emotions, and opinions. Effective and varied use of verbs facilitates accurate expression of meaning. Thus far, little research has been conducted on verb use in individuals with RHD. Individuals with RHD may use a limited variety of verb types, potentially constraining their ability to convey emotions and pragmatic intent in everyday communication. Analyzing patterns of verb use across semantic categories may reveal meaningful differences between individuals with RHD and neurologically healthy controls, contributing to a more comprehensive understanding of how individuals with RHD use language to express meaning during conversation. Analysis comparing verb use in conversations produced by individuals with RHD and healthy controls is currently underway and will be completed in time for poster presentation.