Thesis (MA (General Linguistics))—University of Stellenbosch, 2009. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: It is well-known that there is an important relationship between language and schizophrenia,
given that many of the primary symptoms of schizophrenia are language related (Cutting
1985; Wróbel 1990; Sadock & Sadock 2003; Paradis 2008). Furthermore, research has shown
that certain schizophrenic bilinguals exhibit different symptoms in their first language (L1)
than in their second language (L2) (De Zulueta 1984; De Zulueta, Gene-Cos & Grachev
2001; Paradis 2008; Southwood, Schoeman & Emsley 2009). This thesis investigates the L2
use of schizophrenic bilinguals to determine whether there are significant differences
between the types and frequency of errors made in spontaneous L2 use by schizophrenic
versus normal (i.e. non-schizophrenic) bilinguals. Four schizophrenic bilinguals and four
normal bilinguals (the control group) participated in this study. The controls were matched to
the schizophrenics in terms of age, gender, level of education, L1 (Afrikaans) and L2
(English). Informal, thirty minute interviews were conducted with each of the eight
participants, recorded on video (for the schizophrenics) or audio tape (for the controls) and
carefully transcribed. Each participant's speech sample was then analyzed grammatically by
means of Morice & Ingram's (1982) assessment tool. This analysis involved determining the
complexity of utterances (with reference to mean length of utterance, lexical density, and
number of sentence-initial and sentence-medial conjunctions) and identifying phonological,
morphological, lexical, syntactic and semantic errors. In this way a language profile was
created for each participant and the differences between the two groups (schizophrenics and
controls) were tested for statistical significance. On the basis of the results of these statistical
tests, it is argued that the locus of differences between schizophrenic and normal L2 use is
semantics, rather than any of the other aspects of grammar. The thesis concludes with a
discussion of the main findings of the study, some criticisms of the assessment tool and
suggestions for future research in this field. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Navorsing dui op 'n belangrike verhouding tussen taal en skisofrenie, aangesien baie van die
primêre simptome van skisofrenie taalverwant is (Cutting 1985; Wróbel 1990; Sadock &
Sadock 2003; Paradis 2008). Verder dui navorsing ook daarop dat sekere skisofreniese
tweetaliges verskillende simptome toon in hul eerstetaal (T1) as in hul tweedetaal (T2) (De
Zulueta 1984; De Zulueta, Gene-Cos & Grachev 2001; Paradis 2008; Southwood, Schoeman
& Emsley 2009). Hierdie tesis ondersoek die T2 gebruik van skisofreniese tweetaliges om
vas te stel of daar beduidende verskille tussen die tipe en die gereeldheid van die foute is wat
in spontane T2 gebruik deur skisofreniese teenoor normale (d.w.s nie-skisofreniese)
tweetaliges gemaak word. Vier skisofreniese tweetaliges en vier normale tweetaliges (die
kontrolegroep) het deelgeneem aan hierdie studie. Die skisofreniese groep en die
kontrolegroep is eenders in terme van ouderdom, geslag, vlak van skoolopleiding, T1
(Afrikaans) en T2 (Engels). Informele dertig-minuut lange onderhoude is gevoer met elk van
die agt deelnemers, opgeneem op video (vir die skisofrene) en op band (vir die
kontrolegroep) en noukeurig getranskribeer. Elke deelnemer se spraakdata is hierna
grammatikaal geanaliseer deur middel van Morice & Ingram se (1982)
assesseringsinstrument. Hierdie analise het die volgende ingehou: die vasstel van die
kompleksiteit van uitinge (met betrekking tot gemiddelde uitingslengte, leksikale digtheid, en
die getal van sinsinisiële en sinsinterne voegwoorde) en die identifisering van fonologiese,
morfologiese, leksikale, sintaktiese en semantiese foute. Op hierdie wyse is 'n taalprofiel vir
elke deelnemer opgestel en die verskille tussen die twee groepe (skisofreniese- en
kontrolegroep) is getoets vir statistiese beduidendheid. Op grond van die resultate van hierdie
statistiese toetse word daar geargumenteer dat semantiek, eerder as enige van die ander
aspekte van grammatika, die lokus van die belangrikste verskil tussen skisofreniese en
normale T2 gebruik is. Die tesis sluit af met 'n bespreking van die belangrikste bevindinge
van die studie, enkele kritiese opmerkings oor die assesseringsinstrument, asook voorstelle
vir verdere navorsing in hierdie veld.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:netd.ac.za/oai:union.ndltd.org:sun/oai:scholar.sun.ac.za:10019.1/2746 |
| Date | 12 1900 |
| Creators | Smit, Mathilda |
| 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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