From: Scott
Date: 10 Oct 2012
Time: 12:43:50 -0500
Remote Name: 150.212.111.241
Hi Mark - Thanks for your post... In some ways, I think your question is similar to Ken Melnick's that I just answered. How can we use a single word or definition to capture something that is so broad and varied in its experience. I know that there have been various efforts over the years to introduce alternate terminology instead of the word stutter... and I understand and sympathize with the desire to bring clarity to the situation. For my part, rather than introducing new labels, I would advocate the introduction of descriptors -- adjectives or clarifying phrases - to differentiate what one means. So, I almost never say "stutter" - I say "stuttering behavior" - or, better "behavior that MAY indicate that the person stuttered" - or, better yet, and taking into account the opinions offered in this paper, "surface behavior that may indicate that the speaker experienced an underlying feeling of loss of control." I would maintain that a listener can never tell with certainty whether a person actually stuttered or not - only the speaker can know that. So, the trend in our field to counting "unambiguous stutters" is, to me, meaningless. I know that this will ruffle some feathers, but that's the point of a debate, no? Back to the point - a descriptor...I talk about "the speaker's experience of the stuttering disorder" whenever I can, but that didn't make it into the title of the OASES because OASESD can't be pronounced ;-) Seriously, I always try to differentiate whether i'm talking about the speaker's perspective vs. the listener's perspective and the speech behavior (as observed by the listener) and the life experience (as perceived by the speaker). The reason I don't prefer to introduce separate terms for these things is because I think doing it this way helps to clarify and educate those who would use the monolithic term "stuttering" to refer to it all (probably because they weren't aware of the differences that you are trying to highlight.) Such a person would have no idea what some alternate term might mean, so at least this bridges to what they know already (or think they know already). Bottom line, you're right - saying "severe stutter" is very confusing because it's imprecise. I would save "severe impact from stuttering" or "severe impact though minimal observable stuttering behaviors" etc... Then again, as you've no doubt seen from reading my posts, I like words. Why use 1 word when you can use 10? ;-) Thanks again for your post - I'm enjoying the discussion! - S