Disfluent whole-word repetitions in cluttering: Durational patterns and functions

ABSTRACT

In this article, disfluent word-repetitions are analysed in cluttered and control speech. The main questions are the following: (1) Do different functions of word-repetitions occur in different ratio in cluttered and control speech? (2) Are there any differences between PWC and control speakers in durational parameters of disfluent word-repetitions?

Results show that there are differences between the two groups of speakers in the types of word-repetitions, and in their durational parameters. In cluttered speech, the most frequent type of repetitions were covert self-repairs while in control speech canonical repetitions are dominated. There were significant differences in the durational parameters of word-repetitions of both groups except in the function of covert self-monitoring.

According to the results, it can be concluded that as in earlier studies, analysis of the frequency of types of disfluencies in themselves is not enough as this analysis does not always show the differences between the two groups. It is important to learn more about the durational and functional characteristics of the specific types of disfluencies comparing them in cluttered and control speech.

KEYWORDS:

• Cluttering
• whole-word repetition
• durational patterns
• functions

Acknowledgments

The author wishes to thank Mária Gósy, Dóra Kós-Dienes, Zsófia Koren-Dienes and Cheryl Winget for their help in preparing this article.

Declaration of interest

I hereby declare that I have no financial or personal relationships with other people or organizations that could inappropriately influence (bias) the work reported in this article. I have no affiliation with any organization with a financial interest, direct or indirect, in the subject matter or materials discussed in the manuscript that might affect the conduct or reporting of the work submitted.