Making up your mind: investigating the comprehension of discourse particles via a selection test in Dutch-speaking persons with aphasia

Background Interpersonal discourse particles (e.g., actually, indeed) are linguistic tools that enable speakers to respond to contextual expectations. Yet it is currently unclear from a research or diagnostic perspective to what extent Dutch-speaking persons with aphasia (PWA) can successfully integrate these words into a communicative context.Aim The present study aims to contribute to our understanding of the abilities of PWA to use interpersonal discourse particles.Methods & procedures 35 Dutch-speaking PWA and 20 neurotypically healthy controls (NHS) completed a discourse particle selection test, comprising both interpersonal discourse particles and nouns. A cumulative link mixed model approach was used to analyse item scores in order to assess how PWA and NHS perform in selecting discourse particles. Furthermore, the relation between discourse particle selection scores and the scores on a standardised working memory task was assessed using a Spearman correlation analysis.Outcomes & Results PWA performed more poorly in selecting interpersonal discourse particles compared to NHS. Moreover, better sentence comprehension was related to better discourse particle scores. We also found that better performance on a working memory task was related to better discourse particle scores in PWA.Conclusions PWA selected fewer interpersonal discourse particles correctly, despite understanding the task and the materials, thus indicating they have deficits in integrating interpersonal discourse particles in a communicative context. Taken together, these findings show that examining discourse particles can lead to a better understanding of aphasic discourse and may provide valuable insights for clinical practice (e.g., discourse-level assessments or advice for communication partners).