Dutch discourse particles (e.g. eigenlijk) are frequent and important in conversation. This project addresses the as of yet unanswered question how people with acquired communication disorders (ACD) use these important linguistic elements. In the literature, two views suggest opposing predictions regarding this question. One view predicts that speakers with ACD would use more discourse particles as they are processed automatically. The other view proposes complex pragmatic and interpersonal functions of discourse particles and therefore predicts the opposite pattern. To advance the field, this project will examine and explain how discourse particles are used in Dutch-speaking persons with ACD. Discourse particles are very frequent in Dutch and an unexpected use can have a large impact on the way persons with ACD are perceived or understood by others. I will build a new corpus of spoken language in persons with ACD. Discourse particles will be inventoried in different contexts. Further, I will employ experimental studies to examine discourse particles, complementing and strengthening the evidence from the corpus' observations, and to evaluate the pragmatic consequences of discourse particle (non-)use in persons with ACD on how others perceive them. This project will provide new insights regarding the functions of discourse particles in Dutch-speaking persons with ACD and deliver important insights for clinical practice. As such, this project will contribute to the fundamental understanding of both ACD as well as the pragmatics of discourse particles, and therefore bridge theoretical insights and clinical implications.
Putting discourse particles in context
How people with acquired communication disorders use discourse particles
- Duration
- 1 September 2021 until 1 March 2026
- Project member(s)
- I.I. Wets (Imke) , Prof. H. de Hoop (Helen) , Dr L. Hogeweg (Lotte) , Dr M.B. Ruiter (Marina) , Dr V. Piai (Vitória)
- Project type
- Research
- Organisation
- Grammar and Cognition, Centre for Language Studies, Faculty of Arts
Results
- Wets, I., Jiskoot, L., van den Berg, E., Janssen, N., Hogeweg, L., de Hoop, H., Piai, V., & Ruiter, M. B. [oral presentation]. Small words in the picture: The production of discourse particles by Dutch speakers with primary progressive aphasia. Science of Aphasia, Geneva, September 2024
- Wets, I., Bleumink, K., van Lier, L., Opheij, E., Hogeweg, L. de Hoop, H., Piai, V., & Ruiter, M.B. [poster presentation]. Putting discourse particles in perspective. Highlights in the Language Sciences, Nijmegen, July 2024
- Wets, I., Jiskoot, L., van den Berg, E., Janssen, N., Hogeweg, L., de Hoop, H., Piai, V., & Ruiter, M. B. [poster presentation]. Small words in the picture: The production of discourse particles by Dutch speakers with primary progressive aphasia. International Workshop on Language Production, Marseille, June 2024
- Wets, I., Jiskoot, L., van den Berg, E., Janssen, N., Hogeweg, L., de Hoop, H., Piai, V., & Ruiter, M. B. [plenary presentation]. Small words in the picture: The use of discourse particles in oral picture description by individuals with primary progressive aphasia. Aphasia Junior Days, Nijmegen, May 2024.
- Wets, I., Bleumink, K., van Lier, L., Opheij, E., Hogeweg, L. de Hoop, H. Piai, V., & Ruiter, M.B. [poster presentation]. The use of discourse particles by Dutch speaking persons with aphasia. Academy of Aphasia Conference, Reading, England, October 2023.
- Wets, I., Bleumink, K., van Lier, L., Opheij, E., Hogeweg, L. de Hoop, H. Piai, V., & Ruiter, M.B. [plenary presentation]. The use of discourse particles by Dutch speaking persons with aphasia. Science of Aphasia Conference, Nice, France, September 2023.
- Wets, I., Hogeweg, L. de Hoop, H. Piai, V., & Ruiter, M.B. [plenary presentation]. Het belang van kleine woorden in onze communicatie. Sint-Maartenskliniek, Nijmegen, August 2023.
- Wets, I., Hogeweg, L. de Hoop, H. Piai, V. & Ruiter, M.B. [invited talk]. “The use of discourse particles by individuals with aphasia.” Rijksuniversiteit Groningen Neurolinguistics Colloquium, Groningen, April 2023.
- Wets, I., Hogeweg, L. de Hoop, H. Piai, V. & Ruiter, M.B. [plenary presentation]. Towards an understanding of discourse particle use in aphasia. Aphasia Junior Days, Nijmegen, December 2022.
- Wets, I., Hogeweg, L. de Hoop, H. Piai, V. & Ruiter, M.B [poster presentation]. Putting discourse particles in context. AfasieNet conference, Zeist, September 2022.
- Wets, I., Hogeweg, L. de Hoop, H. Piai, V. & Ruiter, M.B [invited talk]. “Kleine woorden spelen een grote rol bij sociale participatie. Algemeen Ziekenhuis Sint-Maarten, Mechelen, Belgium, August 2022.
- Wets, I., Jiskoot, L.C., van den Berg, E., Janssen, N. & Piai, V. [plenary presentation]. Semi-spontaneous language production in primary progressive aphasia. Science of Aphasia conference, Bordeaux, France, September 2022.
Funding
