Duration Variations in the Fluent Speech of Stutterers and Nonstutterers

Abstract

Previous investigations of the timing of speech motor responses of stutterers (Janssen et al., 1983; Janssen and Wieneke, this volume, Chapter 25) have indicated that stutterers were more variable in their segmental timing during oral reading than nonstutterers. The aim of the present study was to analyze further the measured durational variability in the speech of stutterers (Janssen and Wieneke, this volume, Chapter 25). An interesting question is, whether the greater variability can be considered a manifestation of general instability in the stutterers’ motor system, or whether there are other reasons for it. We considered two possible reasons. Firstly the possibility that the greater variability evidenced by the stutterers was due to greater variability of speaking rate was explored. Secondly the possibility that the greater variability was due to one or more extremely variable segments was investigated.