Disfluency: meaning, definitions and examples
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disfluency
[ dɪsˈfluːənsi ]
in speech
Disfluency refers to any break, hesitation, or repetition in speech that disrupts the flow of communication. It can manifest as stutters, pauses, or filler words such as 'um' or 'uh'. Disfluency is a common occurrence in both children and adults, and can vary in severity.
Synonyms
hesitation, interruption, stuttering.
Which Synonym Should You Choose?
| Word | Description / Examples |
|---|---|
| disfluency |
Used in linguistic or medical contexts to describe a pause or disruption in the flow of speech.
|
| stuttering |
Typically refers to a speech disorder in which the flow of speech is disrupted by involuntary repetitions and prolongations of sounds or syllables.
|
| hesitation |
Used to describe a moment of pause or doubt, often in everyday conversation or decision-making contexts.
|
| interruption |
Refers to a break or disturbance in an ongoing activity or conversation, typically caused by an external force or person.
|
Examples of usage
- His disfluency became more noticeable when he was nervous.
- The therapist worked with the client to reduce his disfluency in speech.
Translations
Translations of the word "disfluency" in other languages:
🇵🇹 disfluência
🇮🇳 वाक्य अशुद्धता
🇩🇪 Unflüssigkeit
🇮🇩 ketidaklancaran
🇺🇦 недостатня плавність
🇵🇱 niepłynność
🇯🇵 非流暢性 (ひりゅうちょうせい)
🇫🇷 disfluence
🇪🇸 disfluencia
🇹🇷 akıcılık eksikliği
🇰🇷 유창하지 않음
🇸🇦 عدم الطلاقة
🇨🇿 narušení plynulosti
🇸🇰 neplynulosť
🇨🇳 不流利
🇸🇮 nepovezanost
🇮🇸 óflæði
🇰🇿 сөздің жылдамдығының бұзылуы
🇬🇪 არეულობა
🇦🇿 axıcılıq çatışmazlığı
🇲🇽 disfluencia
Etymology
The term 'disfluency' originated from the Latin word 'dis-' meaning 'apart' or 'away from', and 'fluency' meaning 'smoothness of flow'. It first appeared in the context of speech disorders in the early 20th century, as researchers sought to understand and address the disruptions in speech production. Over time, the concept of disfluency has been studied extensively in fields such as linguistics, psychology, and communication disorders.