THE INTELLIGIBILITY OF EXCERPTS FROM CONVERSATION.

This paper examines the intelligibility of conversational speech by excising words from the fluent stream of speech. In a companion study, the paper examines the intelligibility of words removed from prescribed text spoken fluently at different rates. The method of varying the talker's rate of utterance was through instruction and coaching. In conversational speech, however, rate of utterance is varied by the talker for many reasons, such as the emphasis desired, mood, personal habit, and the speed with which the talker can organize what he wants to say.