스토리텔링 과제 유형에 따른 노년층의 어휘 사용 특성

Abstract

Background and Objectives: Although studies of vocabulary for application in augmentative and alternative communication (AAC) intervention are regularly conducted, domestic studies targeting older adults are rare. This study aims to increase the efficiency of vocabulary selection for AAC intervention by providing a list of vocabulary used frequently among older adults during storytelling. Method: Three storytelling tasks (narration of personal experiences, explanation, and story composition) were assigned to 12 older adults (5 male, 7 female) in their 70s and 80s and their speech was collected. The speech produced was then transcribed to analyze the high-frequency vocabulary, proportion of total speech occupied by core vocabulary, and proportions of core vocabulary occupied by structure and content words. Results: The type of task influenced the high-frequency vocabulary appearing in the storytelling tasks. The number of total words (NTW) was 15,574, while the number of different words (NDW) was 930. Of these total words 283 were core vocabulary, occupying 78.3% of the total words, and content words (78.4%) occupied a greater proportion of core vocabulary than structure words (21.6%). Conclusion: This study provides a list of core vocabulary used during storytelling by older adults without disabilities, a population lacking in clinical evidence, and in the examination of the characteristics of vocabulary usage to be considered when selecting vocabulary for AAC interventions in older adults with complex communication needs.