Repair strategies in aphasic discourse; towards a collaborative model

Abstract

This paper proposes a collaborative model of repair in aphasic discourse, derived from the procedures of conversation analysis (CA). First, it is suggested that relative to other pragmatic orientations CA can offer a particularly illuminating and practically useful perspective on aphasic discourse. Repair strategies are then examined, first in relation to normal conversation then in relation to aphasic conversation' where one or more of the participants is aphasic. Next, Clark and Schaefer's CA-style model of conversational organization (1 987, 1989) is outlined, with attention to its relevance to the organization of repair in aphasic conversation. Finally, we apply this model in an analysis of some aphasic conversational sequences where the collaborative negotiation of repair is particularly evident.