Stuttering in antiquity - Moses and Demosthenes

I n t roduc t ion The w o r d stut ter ing, (also stammering or logospasm) comes f rom the gothic stautan to strike, ( l ) Stutter ing is a disturbance in the fluency and t ime patterning of speech that is inappropriate fo r the person's age. Stuttering consists ei ther of repet i t ions, prolongat ions, pauses wi th in words , observable w o r d substitut ions to avoid blocking, or audible or silent blocking, all of which disrupt the rhythmic f low of speech. (23) The individual knows precisely what he or she wishes to say, but at the same t ime may have difficulty saying it. (4)