Thesis (MPhil (General Linguistics))—University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The term "schizophrenia" refers to a psychiatric condition which affects an individual's
thought and speech (Eaton and Chen 2006). The verbal expression of schizophrenics can
therefore be used as a tool for insight into the nature of schizophrenia as well as the
cognitive processes of schizophrenics (Wróbel 1990:1). This thesis reports on a
comparative evaluation of three pragmatic assessment tools, namely the Pragmatic
Protocol (Prutting and Kirchner 1987), the Profile of Communicative Appropriateness
(Penn 1985), and the Framework for Assessing (Children's) Conversational Skills
(Rumble 1988), in order to establish which of these tools is most suitable for assessing
the first language (L1) and second language (L2) pragmatic abilities of late bilingual
schizophrenics. Four late bilingual schizophrenic patients participated in this study. A
thirty minute informal interview was conducted with each of the participants in both their
L1 and L2 and the speech samples were transcribed and then analysed by means of each
of the pragmatic assessment tools. A careful examination of the results yielded by the
three assessment tools, showed, firstly, that when presenting the results of a pragmatic
assessment of schizophrenic speech, it is crucial that both quantitative and qualitative
information be included: if the latter is excluded, a significant amount of information is
hidden from the clinicians and/or linguists doing the assessment, as well as the people to
whom they report their findings. Secondly, with respect to the characteristics of
schizophrenic speech, the three instruments used in this study show that whereas most of
the aspects of schizophrenics' linguistic abilities seem intact, their pragmatic skills are
definitely impaired. Thirdly, regarding differential symptomatology in bilingual
schizophrenics, this study concludes that none of the three assessment tools contributes to
a better understanding of this phenomenon, and that, in fact, it is highly unlikely that any
pragmatic assessment tool would be able to capture this phenomenon. Finally, it is
recommended that clinicians assess bilingual patients in both languages, whenever
possible, in order to determine the full range of symptoms experienced by the patient, to
gain a better indication of the severity of the illness and to track the progress of the
illness. / AFRIKAANS OPSOMMING: Die term "skisofrenie" verwys na 'n psigiatriese toestand wat 'n individu se denkprosesse
en spraak beïnvloed (Eaton en Chen 2006). Die verbale uitinge van skisofrene kan dus
gebruik word om insig oor die aard van skisofrenie, sowel as die kognitiewe prosesse van
skisofrene, te verkry (Wróbel 1990:1). Hierdie tesis lewer verslag oor 'n vergelykende
evaluering van drie pragmatiese assesseringsinstrumente, naamlik die "Pragmatic
Protocol" (Prutting en Kirchner 1987), die "Profile of Communicative Appropriateness"
(Penn 1985), en die "Framework for Assessing (Children's) Conversational Skills"
(Rumble 1988), om sodoende vas te stel watter een van hierdie drie die mees gepaste
instrument is vir die assessering van tweetalige skisofrene se pragmatiese vaardighede in
hul eerstetaal (T1) en tweedetaal (T2), spesifiek in gevalle waar die T2 later (d.w.s. nie
binne die eerste sewe lewensjare nie) verwerf is. Vier sulke tweetalige skisofrene het
deelgeneem aan die studie. Daar is met elkeen van die deelnemers 'n informele
onderhoud gevoer vir 30 minute in hul T1, gevolg deur 30 minute in hul T2. Die
onderhoude is getranskribeer en daarna geanaliseer deur middel van elk van die drie
assesseringsinstrumente. 'n Noukeurige ondersoek en vergelyking van die resultate van
die drie instrumente het eerstens getoon dat dit belangrik is om die resultate van 'n
pragmatiese analise van skisofreniese spraak op beide 'n kwantitatiewe en kwalitatiewe
wyse aan te bied: wanneer kwalitatiewe inligting weggelaat word, bly 'n betekenisvolle
hoeveelheid van die informasie verborge vir die klinici en/of taalwetenskaplikes wat die
assessering doen, asook die mense aan wie hulle hulle bevindinge rapporteer. Tweedens,
met betrekking tot die eienskappe van skisofreniese spraak, wys die drie instrumente wat
in hierdie studie gebruik is dat alhoewel meeste aspekte van skisofrene se taalvaardighede
ongeskonde is, hulle pragmatiese vaardighede ooglopend aangetas is. Derdens, rakende
differensiële simptomatologie in tweetalige skisofrene kom hierdie studie tot die
gevolgtrekking dat geen van die drie instrumente bydra tot 'n beter begrip van hierdie
verskynsel nie, en dat dit selfs hoogs onwaarskynlik is dat enige pragmatiese
assesseringsinstrument hierdie verskynsel sou kon vaslê. Uiteindelik word daar aanbeveel
dat klinici, wanneer dit ookal moontlik is, tweetalige pasiënte in beide tale behoort te
assesseer om sodoende die volledige reeks van simptome wat 'n pasiënt ervaar vas te stel,
om 'n beter aanduiding te bekom oor die erns van die siekte, en om die progressie van die
siekte te volg.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/1783 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Theron, Janina |
| Contributors | Conradie, S., University of Stellenbosch. Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences. Dept. of General Linguistics. |
| Publisher | Stellenbosch : University of Stellenbosch |
| Source Sets | South African National ETD Portal |
| Language | English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
| Rights | University of Stellenbosch |
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