How should non-stammerers (i.e. normally fluent speakers) react when they encounter a person who stammers?
In India where even today, stammering is considered funny; where the comedian in our films still stammers in search of cheap laughs, one of the primary goals of The Speech Foundation is to disseminate correct information about this baffling speech condition and suggest ways to overcome it. Another one of its goals is to suggest how non-stammerers should react when they encounter a person who stammers. Many of us might experience a feeling of embarrassment when we converse with persons who stammer; some of us look away while others go ahead to complete their sentences for them. In talking with a person who stammers, the following hints might be of help: 1. Listen to what is said, not how it is said. 2. Be patient and don’t hurry the person talking. 3. Try to maintain natural eye contact. 4. Simplistic advice (“breathe properly”, “don’t worry”, “don’t be afraid”, etc.) though well- meant is not always helpful. 5. Persons who stammer have difficulty when talking but don’t assume they are
Related Questions
- What is the difference between conversational English and classroom English-or why some fluent speakers struggle?
- How should non-stammerers (i.e. normally fluent speakers) react when they encounter a person who stammers?
- How Do You React To Verbal Abuse From A Person Without Being Able To Leave The Situation?
