Stuttering is a speech disorder in which the normal flow of speech is
frequently disrupted by repetitions (sounds, syllables, words, or
phrases), pauses, and prolongations that differ both in frequency and
severity from those of normally fluent individuals. The term
stuttering is most commonly associated with the involuntary
repetition, but it also encompasses the abnormal hesitation or pausing
before speech, referred to by stutterers as blocks, and the
prolongation of certain sounds, usually vowels. Much of what
constitutes “stuttering” cannot be observed by the listener; this
includes such things as sound and word fears, situational fears,
anxiety, tension, shame, and a feeling of "loss of control" during
speech. The emotional state of the individual who stutters in response
to the stuttering often constitutes the most difficult aspect of the
disorder.
Read the rest of this article:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stuttering
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Today's selected anniversaries:
1674:
John Sobieski was elected by the szlachta to be King of the
Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_III_Sobieski%2C_King_of_Poland)
1881:
The American Red Cross was established by Clara Barton.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/American_Red_Cross)
1894:
The Manchester Ship Canal was officially opened, linking the city of
Manchester to the Irish Sea.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Manchester_Ship_Canal)
1927:
Aboard the Spirit of St. Louis, Charles Lindbergh completed the first
solo non-stop transatlantic flight.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Lindbergh)
1991:
Former Indian prime minister Rajiv Gandhi was assassinated by a female
suicide bomber.
(
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rajiv_Gandhi)
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Wikiquote of the day:
"May the Force be with you." -- Jedi saying; used in all Star Wars
episodes.
(
http://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Star_Wars)