INTRDUCTION TO CLINICAL

LINGUISTICS
 1. Introduction& Definitions

Clinical linguistics is understood as the area of Applied linguistics dealing especially

with the analysis of data from speakers with some sort of pathology affecting their use
of language.
David Crystal defined CL as the application of linguistic sciences to the study of
language disability in all its forms. It makes its own contribution to neurosciences and
cognitive sciences.
 2. Historical Background

•Linguistics neglected this field in the second half of the 20th century, and
linguists concentrated on applied research into other topics such as those
related to teaching a second language, language policy and language
planning or computational linguistics.

* There are also a number of journals that are compulsory readings for the
speech therapist such as:
A. Advances in Speech Language Pathology
B. Augmentative & Alternative Communication

C. Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics

D. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders

E. Journal of Intellectual and Development Disability

* Clinical linguistics studies have a long history in applied linguistics, and
it participated in the process of creating interdisciplinary university
departments called “ Department of Speech Disorder”, “ Department of
Speech and Communication Disorder” “ Department of the Science and
Disorders of Communication”

What does CL cover?

CL covers the application of linguistics to the field of speech pathology and
language pathology and its most direct professional manifestation is
logopedics or speech therapy.
What are the difficulties a language user may suffer from?
There are several difficulties that affect the production of a language by an
individual as:
1. Disorder
2. Deficit
3. Dysfunction
4. Deprivation
5. Disadvantage
6. Handicap
7. Loss of speech
8. Stuttering
9. Pronunciation disturbance
 Where do we encounter a person with a serious linguistic difficulty?
We have those people in
1. A school classroom
2. A pre-school playground
3. A young adult training center
4. A home for the aged

Who are the professionals involved in the care and treatment of language
handicapped people?
1. Speech and language pathologists
2. Therapists
3. School teachers
4. Educational & clinical psychologists
5. Pediatricians
6. Social workers
What is the role of linguists with reference to CL ?
The linguists’ task in terms of speech and language pathology mainly
concerns:
A. Description: the linguist’s job is to obtain samples of distorted speech
under appropriate conditions and using the correct methodology,
describe the samples of distorted speech and apply comprehensive
knowledge of all the components of language.
B. Research: the research done by the linguists in CL acts as an essential
bridge between the neuropsychologist’s diagnosis and te speech
therapist’s rehabilitatory praxis.
C. Designing: The linguist’s comprehensive knowledge of the language
system enables them to design diagnostic and rehabilitation protocols to
be used by the speech therapists.

D. Noticing Symptoms: A linguist is a capable person who can identifies

the important symptoms of language disability.