Chapter 1 Language disorders

Language

a complex and dynamic system of conventional symbols used for thought and language

speech

the articulation and the rate of speech sounds and quality of an individual’s voice

communication

includes symbolic and non-symbolic information

Level 1

the acoustic level of communicative function

Level 2

the internal physical/motor system required for communication

Level 3

the linguistic component of communication

form

• syntax

• morphology

• phonology

content

• semantics

use

• pragmatics

morphology

the structure of words and the construction of word forms

syntax

• the order and combination of words to form sentences

• relationships among the elements within a sentence

phonology

• the sound system of a language

• rules that govern the sound combinations

semantics

the system that governs the meanings of words and sentences

pragmatics

the system that combines the above language components in functions and socially appropriate communication

Evidence-Based Practice

an approach in which current, high-quality research evidence is integrated with practitioner expertise and client preferences and values, into the process of making clinical decisions