Developing the Korean Version of a Semantic Feature Database for Semantic Feature Analysis Treatment

Abstract

Objectives: A naming deficit is a common linguistic issue for individuals with aphasia. Semantic Feature Analysis (SFA) is a widely used approach to improving the naming abilities of individuals with aphasia. The purpose of this study was to develop a Korean version of the semantic feature database used in SFA treatment. Methods: The item lists and semantic features of nouns and verbs were modified to reflect the linguistic characteristics and cultural context of Korea. To assess the semantic relatedness of the items and semantic features, the researchers conducted two validation studies. In the first study, forty young participants were recruited, and the semantic features were revised if the agreement rate was less than 80%. In the second study, sixteen speech language pathologists participated. Results: The final list included 213 nouns and 159 verbs, with 24 semantic features for each word. The researchers composed 5,112 noun semantic features and 3,816 verb semantic features. In the first validation, the matching rate of semantic features was over 80%, except for 21 noun semantic features and 167 verb semantic features. In the second validation, 21 noun semantic features and 161 verb semantic features showed a matching rate of over 80%. The researchers modified six verb semantic features with a matching rate of less than 80%. Conclusion: This study successfully developed a Korean version of the semantic feature database for noun and verb naming treatment. This database provides a valuable resource for improving the naming abilities of individuals with aphasia.