Introduction to Language and Linguistics

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Introduction

Aphasia is the inability (or impaired ability) to understand or produce speech, as a result of
brain damage. Aphasia is an impairment of language, affecting the production or
comprehension of speech and the ability to read or write. Aphasia is always due to injury
to the brain-most commonly from a stroke, particularly in older individuals. But brain injuries
resulting in aphasia may also arise from head trauma, from brain tumours, or from infections.

Aphasia can be so severe as to make communication with the patient almost impossible, or it
can be very mild. It may affect mainly a single aspect of language use, such as the ability to
retrieve the names of objects, or the ability to put words together into sentences, or the ability
to read. More commonly, however, multiple aspects of communication are impaired, while
some channels remain accessible for a limited exchange of information.

Individuals with Broca’s aphasia have trouble speaking fluently but their comprehension can
be relatively preserved. This type of aphasia is also known as non-fluent or expressive
aphasia. Patients have difficulty producing grammatical sentences and their speech is limited
mainly to short utterances of less than four words. Producing the right sounds or finding the
right words is often a laborious process. Some persons have more difficulty using verbs than
using nouns.

A person with Broca’s aphasia may understand speech relatively well, particularly when the
grammatical structure of the spoken language is simple. However they may have harder
times understanding sentences with more complex grammatical construct. For example the
sentence “Mary gave John balloons” may be easy to understand but “The balloons were given
to John by Mary” may pose a challenge when interpreting the meaning of who gave the
balloons to whom.

The Case

An 80-year-old Japanese woman presented with sudden onset of speech

disturbance and confusion. She was riding a bicycle when she suddenly
felt unwell and subsequently noticed she could not find words to express
her thoughts. A pedestrian found her sitting on the ground, at a loss for
words and looking confused. She was brought to the emergency
department for evaluation.

On examination, she was alert, but looked very anxious, frustrated and
confused. She was not oriented to time, place and person. She spoke
hesitantly and non-fluently, she seemed not to be able to find words to
respond (speaking and writing) to the physician's questions. She also
showed impairment in repetition and comprehension to questions with
complex syntax.

The patient was diagnosed as pure motor aphasia (Broca’s aphasia). After conservative
treatment with a speech therapist, she made an uneventful recovery.

Broca’s aphasia is characterised by severe impairment in expressing speech and writing.

Comprehension is sometimes affected. Broca’s aphasia stems from neurological damage to
the Broca’s area. The differential diagnosis is broad, encompassing vascular, infectious,
inflammatory or degenerative conditions. Also, some cases with limited symptoms, as seen in
this case, can mislead clinicians to other diagnoses such as herpes encephalitis, Alzheimer's
disease and conversion disorder.

Broca aphasia should be suspected when a patient has difficulty in repetition and naming, and
if dysfluency or inaccuracy of expression of speech and writing are detected. The diagnosis is
sometimes difficult because of the limited manifestation of symptoms.

Language of Broca’s Aphasia Patients

Broca’s aphasia is a medical condition that calls upon a person who suffers neurological
damage in the brain. It is characterized by severe impairment in expressing speech and
writing. In the article, we found out that the Japanese lady had troubles finding words and
expressing them. Though the occurrence was sudden, the reason is yet to be determined. But
one thing that we are certain, aphasia patients are usually frustrated and depressed over the
thoughts that they could not speak as fluent as before.

Without regards of medical perspective, patients that are diagnosed with aphasia are mostly
common people who converse normally every day. Aphasia patients who had a career in the
linguistic industry are the ones who suffers the most. According to National Aphasia
Association (NAA), when dealing with aphasia patients one have to be very gentle and
patient in communication and holding interaction with them. It is also emphasized that
aphasia patients should not be shunned from the society but, need to be always encouraged
and engaged in communication as often as possible. Possibly, just like before.

Patients of Broca’s aphasia tend to be repetitive, slow in uttering words and easily confused.
Therefore, interaction in a complex manner, using complex word syntax and big vocabularies
should be avoided. In any case that they could not find the correct words in their mind, we
should not correct or suggest any words to them. They should be allowed to search for their
own words and be much more independent. Believe that the words are there, but it takes time
to be articulated. Nonetheless, it is also a good idea to bring together aphasia patients into a
group so that they can learn from each other and learn to communicate again. It may take
some time, but with effort, recovery itself is not impossible.

Language Functions of Broca’s Aphasia Patients

The language function of the majority of aphasia patients have been severely reduced.
Aphasia is a communication disorder that affects a person's ability to use language, without
impairing intelligence. That being said, in contrast, a person with Broca’s aphasia will be able
to communicate comprehensibly, although having difficulties to either speak fluently, or to
repeat words and phrases used.

With this being the case, patients with Broca’s aphasia are able to function, in regards with
language, exceptionally well. Being able to perform in communication, albeit with some
minor mistakes. This may lead to slight miscommunications being made, although the
general idea that the speaker wishes to convey has not changed.

They are still able to agree or to disagree, to complain, to ask for information and advice, to
guess and offer help, to state their preferences, to suggest and to warn, and to demand an
explanation. The disadvantages that they face, on the other hand, are being unable to neither
understand nor use sentences with complex structures. The lack of syntax is resulted from
damage to the Broca’s area, in the brain. The area is crucially involved in the preparation of
production of speech.

Conclusion
We can simply conclude that the 80-year old Japanese woman will not be able to make a full
recovery on part of her speech impediment, as per the report. But she will still be able to
communicate, with all language functions intact, although require more time to comprehend.

Aphasia simply means impaired ability to understand or produce speech. The common causes
of which are stroke, head trauma, as well as infections. Some ways to communicate with
Broca’s aphasia patients are to avoid using complex vocabulary and word syntax. The
patients also need to be given extra time to comprehend the content of a speech. They are
able to utilise all functions of a language, like other people without any speech deficits. They
are encouraged to speak more, as they too are human beings, beings that require socialisation,
as not only as means to communicate, but also to express themselves as well.