First saying and second saying in aphasic conversations

Objective: This present study investigates first and second saying in aphasic conversations to demonstrate the ability of qualitative methodologies (in this case conversation analysis) to study the ways in which persons with aphasia achieve conversation success through verbal repetition in the form of first and second sayings. Method: For this explorative case study, the author drew on data from AphasiaBank, a multimedia database of discourse samples gathered from individuals with aphasia and from healthy controls. Using the framework of conversation analysis, the author discusses its position, composition, and action. Results: We demonstrated the role of the practice of recycling elements of one’s own prior utterances in building socially meaningful action, presenting an image of the speaker with aphasia as someone who is competently and confidently managing throughout her impairment. Discussion: The author discusses the potential of conversation analytical techniques as tools to study the complex phenomenon of conversation as the primary vehicle for human social action. Conclusion: Through the study of ‘first saying and second saying’ in aphasic conversation, this study contributes to our understanding of how persons with aphasia strategically employ their limited linguistic resources to negotiate meaning and social action.