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Dr Lucy Dipper

Reader

School of Health Sciences Division of Language and Communication Science

Contact details

Address

Dr Lucy Dipper M123, Myddelton Street Building
City, University of London
Northampton Square
London EC1V 0HB
United Kingdom

About

Overview

Dr Lucy Dipper is a linguist working in the field of Speech and Language Therapy, exploring the best ways to assess and remediate communication disorders.

She works with the language needed for communication in everyday life, such as storytelling and other forms of discourse, as well as with sentences and gesture. Everyday communication requires analysis and intervention at various levels of language including word, phrase, sentence and discourse structure levels, and Lucy's research is directed at creating feasible methods for clinicians to achieve this.

Lucy joined City, University of London in 2000, and previously worked at University College London. She studied Linguistics at Sussex University and then undertook both her Masters and PhD in Clinical Linguistics at University College London.

Lucy's research investigates the ways in which people use language and gesture to communicate meaning in everyday life, including ideas, experiences, interests, beliefs, opinions and other aspect of identity.

Qualifications

  1. PhD Language Sciences, University College London, United Kingdom, 1997 – 1999
  2. MSc Human Communication (distinction), University College London, United Kingdom, 1993 – 1995
  3. BSc (Hons) Linguistics, University of Sussex, United Kingdom, 1988 – 1991

Employment

  1. Divisional Lead - Language and Communication Science, City, University London, Jan 2021 – present
  2. Reader (Associate Professor) in Clinical Linguistics, City, University London, Sep 2018 – present
  3. Senior Lecturer - Clinical Linguistics and Child Language Development, City, University London, Sep 2009 – Sep 2018
  4. Lecturer - Clinical Linguistics, City, University London, Sep 1999 – Sep 2009
  5. Clinical Linguist (0.2. secondment), Connect - the communication disability network, 1999 – 2001
  6. Postgraduate Teaching Assistant, University College London, Jan 1997 – Jan 1999

Memberships of professional organisations

  1. Member, British Aphasiology Society
  2. Member, International Society of Gesture Studies
  3. Member, British Association of Clinical Linguists

Teaching

UndergraduateTeaching

- SL1005 Language Sciences (1)
I teach the Linguistics strand of this module

- SL2004 Language Sciences (2)
I teach the Language Development strand of this module

Postgraduate Teaching

- SLM003 Developmental Studies
I teach the Language Development strand of this module

- SLM001 Speech and Language Sciences
I am providing sabbatical cover for the Linguistics strand of this module

- HCM003 Cognitive and Communication Impairments
Module Leader, and cognition in aphasia teaching.

- HCM001 Acquired Language Impairments
Sentence and Discourse level assessment and therapy

Other teaching expertise

Sociolinguistics, Psycholinguistics.

Research

Research Overview

Lucy's research interests include language and language disorder, with a particular interest in aphasia. Lucy and a colleague (Naomi Cocks - Curtin University, Perth, Austraia) recently completed a project funded by the Dunhill Medical Trust to explore the relationship between gesture and language skills in aphasia. Their results suggested that impairment to the language system (aphasia) is reflected in gesture, supporting the prevailing idea that language and gesture are strongly linked in processing terms. They also suggest that analysis of spontaneous co-speech is an important addition to the speech and language therapists' assessment toolkit.

Lucy and another colleague (Madeline Cruice - LCS, City University, London) are currently exploring the skills of people with aphasia across various communication genres. Supported by City University funds, they have carried out an exploratory analysis of the language used by people with aphasia when discussing their quality of life. This is an exciting new collaboration providing a unique opportunity to blend clinical linguistics with quality of life research. They found evidence for both intact and
impaired verb production in aphasia, with some surprising resilience in the range of meaning conveyed. There was also clear heterogeneity within both participant samples
challenges assumptions of normality and typicality.

Currently Madeleine, Lucy and Rachael Anne Knight are running a pilot project looking at language and communication in personal storytelling, and they will be seeking funding for a larger-scale version in 2015.

Research Areas

- Linguistics
- Communication Disorders

Research Centre

- LCS research group membership: Aphasia Research Group
- Assessment and Intervention in Children and Adults
- Deafness, Sign Language and Gesture
- Speech, Acoustics and Linguistics
- Quality of Life and Social aspects of Communication Disorders
- UCL research group membership: Aphasia Research Group

Collaborators

Madeline Cruice (LCS, City)
Rachael Anne Knight (LCS, City
Naomi Cocks (Curtin, Perth, Australia)
Gary Morgan (LCS, City)
Abigail Levin (LCS, City)
Nicola Botting (LCS, City)
Katerina Hilari (LCS, City)

Research students

Madeleine Pritchard

Thesis title: Working beyond the sentence: language for discourse in Aphasia

Ioanna Georgiadou

Thesis title: Rhythmn and prosody in SLI

Hannah Hockey

Thesis title: Word & non-word repetition in SLI

Judith Kistner

Thesis title: Gesture & aphasia

Lara Galante

Thesis title: validating the Dutch Scenario Test for English-speaking people with Aphasia

Publications

Publications by category

Chapter

  1. Dipper, L.T. and Pritchard, M. Discourse: Assessment and Therapy. In Fernanda, F. (Ed.), Advances in Speech-language Pathology (pp. 3–24). Intech Open. ISBN 978-953-51-3509-8.

Journal articles (37)

  1. Dipper, L., Marshall, J., Boyle, M., Hersh, D., Botting, N. and Cruice, M. (2021). Creating a theoretical framework to underpin discourse assessment and intervention in aphasia. Brain Sciences, 11(2), pp. 1–18. doi:10.3390/brainsci11020183.
  2. Caute, A., Dipper, L. and Roper, A. (2021). The City Gesture Checklist: The development of a novel gesture assessment. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 56(1), pp. 20–35. doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12579.
  3. Dipper, L.T., Franklin, S., de Aguiar, V., Baumgaertner, A., Brady, M., Best, W. … Visch-Brink, E.G. (2021). An Umbrella Review of Aphasia Intervention descriPtion In Research: the AsPIRE project. Aphasiology. doi:10.1080/02687038.2020.1852001.
  4. Cruice, M., Botting, N., Marshall, J., Boyle, M., Hersh, D., Pritchard, M. … Dipper, L. (2020). UK speech and language therapists’ views and reported practices of discourse analysis in aphasia rehabilitation. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 55(3), pp. 417–442. doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12528.
  5. Hickin, J., Cruice, M. and Dipper, L. (2020). A systematically conducted scoping review of the evidence and fidelity of treatments for verb deficits in aphasia: Verb-in-isolation treatments. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 29(1 Special Issue), pp. 530–559. doi:10.1044/2019_AJSLP-CAC48-18-0234.
  6. Dipper, L., Marshall, J., Boyle, M., Botting, N., Hersh, D., Pritchard, M. … Cruice, M. (2020). Treatment for improving discourse in aphasia: a systematic review and synthesis of the evidence base. Aphasiology. doi:10.1080/02687038.2020.1765305.
  7. Kistner, J., Marshall, J. and Dipper, L. (2019). The influence of conversation parameters on gesture production in aphasia. Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics. doi:10.1080/02699206.2019.1692075.
  8. Kistner, J., Dipper, L.T. and Marshall, J. (2019). The use and function of gestures in word-finding difficulties in aphasia. Aphasiology, 33(11), pp. 1372–1392. doi:10.1080/02687038.2018.1541343.
  9. Pritchard, M., Hilari, K., Cocks, N. and Dipper, L. (2018). Psychometric properties of discourse measures in aphasia: acceptability, reliability, and validity. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 53(6), pp. 1078–1093. doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12420.
  10. Hilari, K., Galante, L., Huck, A., Pritchard, M., Allen, L. and Dipper, L. (2018). Cultural adaptation and psychometric testing of The Scenario Test UK for people with aphasia. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 53(4), pp. 748–760. doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12379.
  11. Dipper, L., Pritchard, M., Walkden, E. and Cruice, M. (2018). How do speakers with and without aphasia use syntax and semantics across two discourse genres? Aphasiology, 32(6), pp. 720–738. doi:10.1080/02687038.2018.1447642.
  12. Cocks, N., Byrne, S., Pritchard, M., Morgan, G. and Dipper, L. (2018). Integration of speech and gesture in aphasia. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 53(3), pp. 584–591. doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12372.
  13. Morgan, S. and Dipper, L. (2018). Is the Communication Pyramid a useful Model of Language Development? Royal College of Speech & Language Therapists Bulletin, (https://www.rcslt.org/docs/bulletin/2018/may_2018), pp. 26–28.
  14. Pritchard, M., Hilari, K., Cocks, N. and Dipper, L. (2017). Reviewing the quality of discourse information measures in aphasia. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 52(6), pp. 689–732. doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12318.
  15. Botting, N., Dipper, L. and Hilari, K. (2017). The effect of social media promotion on academic article uptake. Journal of the Association for Information Science and Technology, 68(3), pp. 795–800. doi:10.1002/asi.23704.
  16. Burdon, P., Dipper, L. and Cocks, N. (2016). Exploration of older and younger British adults’ performance on The Awareness of Social Inference Test (TASIT). International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 51(5), pp. 589–593. doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12233.
  17. Burdon, P., Dipper, L. and Cocks, N. (2016). Exploration of older and younger British adults’ performance on The Awareness of Social Inference Test (TASIT). International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 51(5), pp. 589–593. doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12233.
  18. Knight, R., Dipper, L. and Cruice, M. (2016). Viva Survivors – the effect of peer-mentoring on pre-viva anxiety in early-years students. Studies in Higher Education, 43(1), pp. 190–199. doi:10.1080/03075079.2016.1161018.
  19. Ivanszky, Z., Cocks, N. and Dipper, L. (2015). A pilot study exploring public awareness and knowledge of right hemisphere communication disorder compared with aphasia and stroke in Northwest London, UK. Aphasiology, 30(9), pp. 1058–1070. doi:10.1080/02687038.2015.1081141.
  20. Theochaaropoulou, F., Cocks, N., Pring, T. and Dipper, L.T. (2015). “TOT” phenomena: Gesture production in younger and older adults. Psychology and Aging.
  21. Pritchard, M., Dipper, L., Morgan, G. and Cocks, N. (2015). Language and iconic gesture use in procedural discourse by speakers with aphasia. Aphasiology, 29(7), pp. 826–844. doi:10.1080/02687038.2014.993912.
  22. Hickin, J., Mehta, B. and Dipper, L. (2015). To the sentence and beyond: a single case therapy report for mild aphasia. Aphasiology, 29(9), pp. 1038–1061. doi:10.1080/02687038.2015.1010474.
  23. Dipper, L., Pritchard, M., Morgan, G. and Cocks, N. (2015). The language-gesture connection: Evidence from aphasia. Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics, 29(8-10), pp. 748–763. doi:10.3109/02699206.2015.1036462.
  24. Cruice, M., Pritchard, M. and Dipper, L. (2014). Verb use in aphasic and non-aphasic personal discourse: What is normal? Journal of Neurolinguistics, 28, pp. 31–47. doi:10.1016/j.jneuroling.2013.12.002.
  25. Knight, R.A., Dipper, L. and Cruice, M. (2013). The use of video in addressing anxiety prior to viva voce exams. British Journal of Educational Technology, 44(6). doi:10.1111/bjet.12090.
  26. Pritchard, M., Cocks, N. and Dipper, L. (2013). Iconic gesture in normal language and word searching conditions: A case of conduction aphasia. International Journal of Speech-Language Pathology, 15(5), pp. 524–534. doi:10.3109/17549507.2012.712157.
  27. Cocks, N., Dipper, L., Pritchard, M. and Morgan, G. (2013). The impact of impaired semantic knowledge on spontaneous iconic gesture production. Aphasiology, 27(9), pp. 1050–1069. doi:10.1080/02687038.2013.770816.
  28. Johnson, S., Cocks, N. and Dipper, L. (2013). Use of spatial communication in aphasia. International Journal of Language and Communication Disorders, 48(4), pp. 469–476. doi:10.1111/1460-6984.12022.
  29. Dipper, L., Cocks, N., Rowe, M. and Morgan, G. (2011). What can co-speech gestures in aphasia tell us about the relationship between language and gesture?: A single case study of a participant with Conduction Aphasia. Gesture, 11(2), pp. 123–147. doi:10.1075/gest.11.2.02dip.
  30. Cocks, N., Dipper, L., Middleton, R. and Morgan, G.D. (2011). What can iconic gestures tell us about the language system? A case of conduction aphasia. Int J Lang Commun Disord, 46(4), pp. 423–436. doi:10.3109/13682822.2010.520813.
  31. Harding, C., Lindsay, G., O'Brien, A., Dipper, L.T. and Wright, J. (2011). Implementing AAC with children with profound and multiple learning disabilities: a study in rationale underpinning intervention. The Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs, 11(2), pp. 120–129. doi:10.1111/j.1471-3802.2010.01184.x.
  32. Cairns, D., Marshall, J., Cairns, P. and Dipper, L. (2007). Event processing through naming: Investigating event focus in two people with aphasia. Language and Cognitive Processes, 22(2), pp. 201–233. doi:10.1080/01690960500489644.
  33. Cairns, D., Marshall, J., Cairns, P. and Dipper, L.T. (2007). Event Processing through naming: Investigating eveny focus in two people with aphasia. Language and Cognitive Processes, 22(2), pp. 201–233. doi:10.1080/01690960500489644.
  34. Patricacou, A., Psallida, E., Pring, T. and Dipper, L.T. (2007). The Boston Naming Test in Greek: Normative data and the effects of age and education on naming. Aphasiology, 21(12), pp. 1157–1170. doi:10.1080/02687030600670643.
  35. Dipper, L.T., Black, M. and Bryan, K.L. (2005). Thinking for speaking and thinking for listening: The interaction of thought and language in typical and non-fluent comprehension and production. Language and Cognitive Processes, 20(3), pp. 417–441. doi:10.1080/01690960444000089.
  36. Chiat, S., Dipper, L.T. and McKiernan, A. (2001). Redressing the Balance. Advances in Speech Language Pathology, 3(1), pp. 63–66.
  37. Dipper, L.T., Bryan, K.L. and Tyson, J. (1997). Bridging inference and Relevance Theory: An account of right hemisphere inference. Clinical Linguistics and Phonetics, 11(3), pp. 213–228. doi:10.3109/02699209708985192.

Professional activities

Clinical activity

  1. Linguistic consultancy, City Aphasia Clinic and City Aphasia Reading Clinic

Events/conferences (9)

  1. Language as a Form of Action. (Conference) Rome, Italy (2017).
    Paper: The Clinical Utility of Gesture Coding Frameworks
    Author: Roper, A
    Co-authors: Caute, A.; Dipper, L.; Pritchard, M.
  2. Semantic Knowledge and Co-Speech Gesture Production in Aphasia. Exeter University, UK (2013).
    Description: British Aphasiology Society Research Update meeting (oral presentation).
  3. To the sentence and beyond: therapy for mild aphasia. Thoughts on assessment, therapy and outcome measures from therapist, linguist and client. Melbourne, Australia (2012).
    Description: 15th International Aphasia Rehabilitation Conference (oral presentation- 2nd author).
  4. Linguistic analysis of quality of life responses reveals lexical diversity in verbs in aphasia. Reading University, UK (2011).
    Description: British Aphasiology Society Biennial International Conference, oral presentation - 2nd author.
  5. Iconic Gesture Production in Aphasia. Reading University, UK (2011).
    Description: British Aphasiology Society Biennial International Conference, poster presentation.
  6. What can word-finding gestures in Aphasia tell us about the language system? European University Viadrina Frankfurt/Oder, Germany (2010).
    Description: 4th Conference of the International Society for Gesture Studies (ISGS), oral presentation.
  7. Co-speech iconic gesture production in aphasia: a single case study. Adam Mickiewicz University, Poznan, Poland (2009).
    Description: Gesture and Speech in Interaction Conference, oral presentation.
  8. Gesture production and aphasia: a single case study of a woman with conduction aphasia. Sheffield University, UK (2009).
    Description: British Aphasiology Society Biennial International Conference, poster.
  9. The relationship between impaired language and iconic gesture production: motion verbs. Lund, Sweden
    Description: PANEL: Gesture Production by people who have Communication Impairments. Oral presentation. Co-chair. 4th Conference of the International Society for Gesture Studies (ISGS).