Further Directions of Clinical Discourse Analysis

Abstract

This chapter highlights several areas in discourse production, both in unimpaired and pathological speaker groups, that have not been systematically examined. In particular, these topics include neural correlates of verbal and non-verbal discourse, assessment and treatment challenges for individuals with disabilities of under-represented racial or ethnic groups, application of existing linguistic models or frameworks to disordered discourse, and application of technology in remediating discourse impairments. The discussion in this chapter provides readers with a glimpse of where these individual topics may be headed. Apart from emphasizing issues around disordered discourse production that are most likely to be addressed in the near future, readers will gain a “heads-up” to follow the upcoming development of these content areas. In conclusion, given that these topics have been neglected in the past and also that insufficient knowledge has been gained to motivate their studying (and hence their advancement) in the literature, future research and investigations are warranted.