Linguistic Encounters with Language Handicap

The author assesses the state of the art in our knowledge of language pathology and finds it wanting, arguing that concern with terminology has distracted from the description of language symptoms. He provides a review of the field of clinical linguistics, and illustrates two cases, aphasia and specific learning disability, to show how linguistic descriptions can provide vital insights. The book concludes with a look at the future of clinical linguistic studies and examines their chances of success.