Khalid, Khadijah2018-02-192018-02-19b49594011http://hdl.handle.net/1885/140917Exploring Communication Strategies used by Speech-Language Pathologists in Multilingual Contexts in Malaysia Abstract: Communication is critical to the work of speech-language pathologists (SLPs). In highly multilingual societies like Malaysia, the complexity of communication is distinct from SLP practices in more monolingually-oriented jurisdictions, especially in terms of professional discourse. The issue of unshared or limited overlapping linguistic repertoires between professionals and clients is common in Malaysia. This may contribute to a high risk of misinterpretation and miscommunication, which could lead to misdiagnosis and improper management. Therefore, research on how to systematically manage SLP-client interactions where participants lack a language variety in common is essential. Currently, there is no documentation as to what kinds of strategies Malaysian SLPs use to compensate for the communication gap between them and their clients when they have limited or no shared language. Hence, the aim of this study is to gather such information and to recommend broad policy guidelines in relation to multilingual SLP-client interactions. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews with 10 SLPs across Malaysia from diverse practice backgrounds. Qualitative content analysis was used to analyse transcribed data and generate themes. Findings include 1) current practices and recommendations relating to assessment and intervention when there is limited or no shared language between clients and SLPs, 2) strategies that can be used to facilitate effective communication with these clients, and 3) recommended practices when working with ad hoc and professional translators.The significant of this study is that it offers some important insights into multilingualism issue present in Malaysia, regarding the professional discourse in the healthcare contexts and provides an opportunity to advance our knowledge on language proficiency management, particularly in the SLP profession.enCommunication StrategiesSpeech-Language PathologistsMultilingualProfessional discourseHealthcare201710.25911/5d6e494a8c35c