Language and grammar: A behavioral analysis.

Abstract

While speech-language pathologists (SLPs) accept the behavioral methods of treatment in their professional work, they tend to entertain an inadequate or dismissive view of the behavioral analysis of language and grammar. This may be because SLP' academic study of language consists mostly of linguistic theories that typically misrepresent Skinner's (1957) analysis of verbal behavior. An appreciation of Skinner's analysis would be consistent with the clinicians' use of applied behavioral techniques in treating speech and language disorders. Therefore, this paper reviews Skinner's functional units of verbal behavior and his analysis of grammar in terms of autoclitics as secondary verbal operants. Skinner's analysis is comprehensive, innovative, clinical researchsupported, and relevant to SLPs.

Behavior analysis and aphasia: A current appraisal and suggestions for the future

“…The potential to improve these practices is well recognized, even within the mainstream. The conceptualization and assessment of language should ideally be based on a similar model from which treatment methods are derived (Baker et al., 2008; Esch et al., 2010; Gross et al., 2013; Hedge, 2010; Marshall, 2010; McNeil & Pratt, 2001), yet significant disconnect remains between conceptualization, assessment, and practice in aphasia (Esch et al., 2010; Hedge, 2010; Tippett et al., 2014). Still, such assessments do have utility, even in a behavioral approach.…”

Construction of School-based Mental Health Records System

“…Language development screening scale for children aged 1 to 6: this scale is derived from Pocket Guide to Assessment in Speech-Language Pathology, which can be used to identify whether children of different age groups have language development delay and disability [51]. The original scale has different scales for 1 ~ 2 years old, 2 ~ 2.5, and 2.5 ~ 3 years old, 3 ~ 4 years old, 4 ~ 5 years old, 5 ~ 6 years old respectively, each scale including eight questions related to the language skills (for example, "can use 100 or above words").…”

Questions on verbal behavior and its application to individuals with autism: An interview with the experts.

“…There is a growing movement within the field of speech-language pathology to adopt Skinner's analysis of verbal behavior as the foundation for language assessment and intervention (see www.behavioralspeech.com, and www.baojournal.com/SLP-ABA%20WEBSITE/index.html). The highly regarded author of many speech-language pathology textbooks M. H. Hegde (2010) points out, "While speech-language pathologist's (SLPs) accept the behavioral methods of treatment in their professional work, they tend to entertain an inadequate or dismissive view of the behavioral analysis of language and grammar (p. 90). Hegde goes on to describe the basic elements of Skinner's analysis of language and its many advantages for the practice of speechlanguage pathology.…”