speech disfluency
Halting spoken expression
Speech disfluency covers the interruptions and irregularities in spoken language—the ums, uhs, false starts, repetitions, and prolonged sounds that break the flow of speech.
Everyone experiences disfluency; it increases with nervousness, cognitive load, or searching for words.
Stuttering is a more persistent form.
Linguists note that fillers like um and uh actually serve communicative functions, signaling that the speaker is thinking or not yet finished.
Obstructs or sections
- repetitionsActs done again
- stammeringInvoluntary speech repetition
- dysfluencyDisrupted speech pattern
- tensionStretched or strained state
spasms · cluttering · breathing techniques · pullouts · cancellations · bouncing · sliding
Spoken hesitation marker
- uhVocalized hesitation marker
- erSpoken filler noise
- ahExclamation of realization
- likeComparable to, or enjoy
you know · I mean · well · so · basically · actually · sort of · kind of
Involuntary repetition of speech
- perseverationInvoluntary repetition of responses
- retracingFollowing a route again
- restartCommence anew
- revisionAltering to improve
Demands on working memory
- self-monitoringTracking your own states
- tip-of-the-tongueMemory retrieval failure state
- working memoryTemporary cognitive holding space
- articulationClear vocal expression
prosody · pragmatics · repair
Voluntary movement execution deficit
- dysarthriaMotor speech muscle disorder
- aphasiaNeurological language impairment
- neurogenicCaused by neural activity
- developmentalRelated to growth stages
assessment · diagnosis · treatment · intervention · SLP · communication disorder
blocks
Obstructs or sections
- repetitionsActs done again
- stammeringInvoluntary speech repetition
- dysfluencyDisrupted speech pattern
tension · spasms · cluttering · breathing techniques · pullouts · cancellations · bouncing · sliding
um
Spoken hesitation marker
like · you know · I mean · well · so · basically · actually · sort of · kind of · right
echolalia
Involuntary repetition of speech
- perseverationInvoluntary repetition of responses
- retracingFollowing a route again
- restartCommence anew
cognitive load
Demands on working memory
- self-monitoringTracking your own states
- tip-of-the-tongueMemory retrieval failure state
- working memoryTemporary cognitive holding space
articulation · prosody · pragmatics · repair
apraxia
Voluntary movement execution deficit
- dysarthriaMotor speech muscle disorder
- aphasiaNeurological language impairment
- neurogenicCaused by neural activity
developmental · assessment · diagnosis · treatment · intervention · SLP · communication disorder
speech disfluencyfluency
Smooth linguistic command
verbal fluency · speech fluency · flow · articulateness · rapid speech
speech disfluencyeloquence
Persuasive verbal grace
oratory · articulateness · rhetoric · silver tongue · elocution