As an online therapy practitioner, enhancing your ability to clarify ambiguous language is crucial. The research article "Saying One Thing, Meaning Another: Activities for Clarifying Ambiguous Language" by Cecile Cyrul Spector (1997) offers valuable insights and practical activities to improve this skill. Let's delve into how you can implement these findings to better serve your clients.
Understanding Ambiguous Language
Ambiguous language involves words or phrases that have multiple meanings, leading to potential misunderstandings. This is particularly relevant for individuals with language-learning disorders, hearing impairments, brain injuries, and those from culturally and linguistically diverse backgrounds. The ability to navigate and clarify such ambiguities is essential for effective communication.
Key Activities to Implement
The research highlights several activities designed to enhance comprehension and usage of ambiguous language. Here are some you can integrate into your online therapy sessions:
- Multiple Meaning Words: Create exercises where clients identify and explain different meanings of a single word. For example, "bark" (the sound a dog makes) vs. "bark" (the outer covering of a tree).
- Sentence Ambiguities: Use sentences with dual meanings and ask clients to interpret both. For instance, "The chicken is ready to eat" can mean the chicken is cooked and ready to be eaten, or the chicken is prepared to eat something.
- Indirect or Polite Requests: Teach clients to understand and respond to indirect requests. Practice with sentences like, "Could you pass the salt?" which implies a request rather than a question.
- Polite Evasions and Irony: Help clients recognize and use polite evasions and ironic statements. For example, interpreting "That's just great" in a sarcastic tone versus a genuine one.
- Stress and Juncture Changes: Work on changing the stress or pauses in sentences to alter meanings. Practice with phrases like "Let's eat, grandma" versus "Let's eat grandma."
Encouraging Further Research
While the activities mentioned are a great starting point, continuous learning and research are essential. Stay updated with the latest studies and resources in the field of speech-language pathology to refine your skills further.
For more detailed information and additional activities, you can refer to the original research paper. To read the original research paper, please follow this link: Saying One Thing, Meaning Another: Activities for Clarifying Ambiguous Language (1997).
