Toward an Augmentative and Alternative Communication symbol taxonomy: A proposed superordinate classification

Abstract

As the first step in developing a symbol taxonomy, the major augmentative and alternative communication symbol classifications reported in the literature over the past decade are reviewed. The terms used to classify symbols are critically evaluated according to their internal logic, their sociolinguistic implications, and their compatibility with common definitions and usage. The clinical and educational relevance of the classification approach in question, and the reduction of dualclassification ambiguity that a given dichotomy may provide are also evaluated. The aided/unaided classification is based on production of the symbol by the user, while the static/dynamic classification is based upon the nature of the symbol's signal. Although both of these dichotomies have clinical/educational and theoretical/research implications, the aided/unaided dichotomy is proposed as the less ambiguous and the more practical classification for the superordinate level of a taxonomy. A major purpose of this paper is to stimulate discussion of symbol classification that will lead to the development of a more complete augmentative and alternative communication symbol taxonomy.