Aphasia and Syntax

Abstract

AbstractThere is great potential for research in aphasia to inform the study of syntax, and vice versa. However, there is currently little interaction between these fields. This chapter outlines current methods in aphasia research and their application to syntax. Then, a brief history of the interaction of these two fields is presented, particularly the successes and failures in understanding the nature of syntactic deficits in agrammatism. In light of the failures, we propose splitting agrammatism into at least two separate syndromes: deficits in phonological working memory (WM) and deficits in morpho-syntactic WM. This dichotomization captures both apparent domain-general and language-specific features of agrammatism. We then suggest future steps to reconnect syntactic theory to the study of aphasia.