Chapter 7
Formulaic language and Discourse Grammar
Evidence from speech disorder
This chapter proposes a dualistic classification of formulaic sequences based on the assumptions of Discourse Grammar, which distinguishes two components of language organisation and processing, viz. Sentence grammar and Thetical grammar. Accordingly, we can distinguish between Sentence grammar formulaic sequences (SG-FS) and Thetical grammar formulaic sequences (TG-FS). This classification is in line with some of the main taxonomies of formulaic language in the literature and corresponds with hemispheric differences identified for brain function. The proposed classification is tested in an empirical study of speech data from speakers with either left-hemisphere disorder (Broca’s aphasia) or right-hemisphere disorder. The results show that the two types of speech disorder differ significantly with regard to the frequencies of each formulaic type, thus providing evidence for the classification proposed.
Article outline
- 1.Introduction
- 2.Discourse Grammar and hemispheric differences
- 2.1The concept of Discourse Grammar
- 2.2Neurolinguistic correlations
- 3.Formulaic language and brain lateralization
- 3.1What are formulaic sequences? Delimiting an elusive concept
- 3.2Formulaic language: A right-hemisphere phenomenon?
- 3.3Classifying formulaic sequences
- 3.3.1
Hudson‘s (1998) fixed expressions
- 3.3.2
Erman and Warren‘s (2000) prefabs
- 3.3.3
Cowie’s (1988) formulae and composites
- 3.3.4
Wray‘s (2002) heteromorphic distributed lexicon
- 3.4Interim conclusion
- 4.Formulaic sequences in aphasia and right hemisphere disorder
- 4.1Outline of the study: Aim and database
- 4.2Data analysis
- 4.2.1Identifying formulaic sequences
- 4.2.2Classification as SG-FS or TG-FS
- 4.3Results
- 4.4Discussion
- 5.Conclusion
-
Notes
-
References
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Cited by (2)
Cited by two other publications
Wray, Alison
2024.
Formulaic Sequences and Language Disorders. In
The Handbook of Clinical Linguistics, Second Edition,
► pp. 177 ff.
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