Exploring Patterns of Verb Type Use During Conversation by Adults With and Without Chronic Aphasia

Previous studies have used semantic verb categories to compare how speakers with and without aphasia use verb types during narrative monologue discourse tasks. In this study, we explore the types of verbs used by speakers with and without aphasia during conversation. Using previously collected conversational discourse samples produced by 23 adults with chronic aphasia and their familiar partners, we classified verb types by semantic category. Semantic verb type use did not differ by aphasia type (fluent vs. nonfluent) when controlling for severity. Distribution across verb types was similar for participants with and without aphasia. Conversation partners produced significantly more mental, verbal, and behavioral verbs than speakers with aphasia but there was not a significant difference in the use of material or relational verbs. Participants with and without aphasia rely on material and relational verbs to construct conversational discourse. Determining if a speaker with aphasia uses a variety of semantic verb types may be useful when setting conversation-based goals for dyads living with aphasia and suggestions for clinical practice are provided.