Year: 2015
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Patients affected with locked-in syndrome suffer from a severe paralysis that leaves them with no other option than using alternative communication methods based on writing. Using such devices can be lengthy and laborious, therefore we investigate whether a patient can develop information organisation strategies in order to optimally express their thoughts while reducing the cost of motor execution. We analyse the letters of a LIS patient on a time period of 9 years, according to Chafe's model (1992) of information flow in written language (more violations to the « light subject » constraint when compared to spoken language, and increased information integration thanks to the use of certain syntaxic structures). Our results show that the patient does not appear to use a strategy based on increased information integration, but rather, it seems, on increased implication of her readers in meaning interpretation, on the mobilisation of shared knowledge, and on dialogic organisation of the text. We conclude with some recommendations regarding the re-education of LIS patients' communication.
Source: HAL
Author: Claire Boilley
Institutions: Laboratoire Dynamique du Langage, Université Grenoble Alpes
Language: French
Subfield: Occupational Therapy
Field: Health Professions
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W2265039713