Terminology and Notation in Written Representations of Conversations with Augmentative and Alternative Communication

Abstract

There is a need for a continuous discussion about what terms one should use within the field of augmentative and alternative communication. When talking and thinking about people in their role as users of alternative communication forms, the terms should reflect their communicative ways and means, their achievements and what they are doing, rather than focus on what they cannot do. There are rather few articles analyzing utterance construction and dialogue processes involving children and adults using manual and graphic communication systems. The aim of this paper was to contribute to reviving the discussion of terminology and to more analyses of signing and aided communication and an increase in the use of conversation excerpts in the AAC Journal and elsewhere.

Keywords::

• Augmentative and alternative communication
• Conversation
• Notation
• Terminology

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.