Measuring discourse coherence in anomic aphasia using Rhetorical Structure Theory.

Purpose: The existing body of work regarding discourse coherence in aphasia has provided mixed results, leaving the question of coherence being impaired or intact as a result of brain injury unanswered. In this study, discourse coherence in non-brain-damaged (NBD) speakers and speakers with anomic aphasia was investigated quantitatively and qualitatively.

Method: Fifteen native speakers of Cantonese with anomic aphasia and 15 NBD participants produced 60 language samples.