Can the right hemisphere speak?

Abstract

While a capacity for the right hemisphere in language and language related functions is established, a role for the right hemisphere in speech production is controversial. The question of the nature of a possible right hemisphere speech production capability has centered mainly on the Jacksonian notion of nonpropositional speech. In this paper I examine whether the right hemisphere does have-a particular role in nonpropositional speech through an exploration of the neurophysiological evidence, research in aphasic speech automatisms, and degree of propositionality in the retained speech of adult left hemispherectomy patients.