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Speech and Rhetorical Studies Commons™
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Full-Text Articles in Speech and Rhetorical Studies
Vocal Fillers, Contagion Effects, And, Um, Overlooked Pedagogical Opportunities In The, Uh, Public Speaking Classroom, W. Benjamin Myers, Theresa A. Wadkins
Vocal Fillers, Contagion Effects, And, Um, Overlooked Pedagogical Opportunities In The, Uh, Public Speaking Classroom, W. Benjamin Myers, Theresa A. Wadkins
Basic Communication Course Annual
The current study explores the relationship between social contagion and vocal fillers. An experiment was conducted in which 100 students presented speeches. Prior to presenting their speech, half of the students were exposed to a speech with excessive vocal fillers and half were exposed to a speech with no vocal fillers. Students who heard a speech with excessive vocal fillers used more vocal fillers in their own speech. Students were unaware of this transmission, which further demonstrates the example of social contagion. Social contagion highlights the presence of linguistic communities in public speaking classrooms. The study then provides a review …