Repetition in narratives of African Americans: The effects of aphasia

This study considers the use of repetition in the narratives of African Ame ricans and the way in which this ethnic use of repetition might be altered or constrained by aphasia. Two groups of African Americans-1 neurologically normal and I with aphasia-produced narratives of a frightening experience. Instances of repetition were analyzed qualitatively for function and form of expression. We were interested specifically in the balance of various st ructural and functional types of repetition among individuals with aphasia and neurologically normal individuals as well as how this might reflect ubi quity or specificity of a given range of repetition types. Results suggeste d maintenance of ethnic repetitions in individuals with aphasia. The influe nces of culture, narrative topic, and aphasia severity on narrative repetit ion and its functions are discussed.