The Prof Is In

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Re: how do you treat disfluencies from normal adults

From: Barbara Amster
Date: 15 Oct 2010
Time: 13:25:45 -0500
Remote Name: 139.84.48.251

Comments

If you are trying to help a person reduce the amount of interjections such as “like” or “you know” there are many possibilities. Videotaping a person speaking and reviewing the tape with them can be helpful. Having the individual pay attention to when other people do the same type of interjection could be helpful. Signaling to the individual in some way such as by tapping on a table or raising your hand when they do it and eventually having the person notice when they do it in their own speech can also be helpful. I would only attempt to help someone reduce these types of behaviors because they are trying to enhance their speaking style for professional reasons. Do you remember when Carolyn Kennedy was running for governor of NY and she received much negative publicity because her speech contained so many interjections of this type? She may have benefited from this type of intervention.


Last changed: 10/23/10