# Do you talk fast? Why? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [July 21, 2009, 4:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-talk-fast-why/503743 "2009-07-21T16:15:40Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 19\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Blackberry](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/ecd19e/32.png) [@Blackberry](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Blackberry)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-talk-fast-why/503743/21 "2009-07-21T23:11:39Z")
People are always telling me I talk too fast and they can’t understand what I’m saying. I do it partly out of habit I guess, and because I’m impatient and project that onto other people and feel like they want me to hurry up, even though I know that’s not true. There are a lot of situations where I feel rushed for no good reason, and talking is just one of them. ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [July 21, 2009, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-talk-fast-why/503743/22 "2009-07-21T23:54:30Z")
Compared to who? Not compared to other people I encounter on a daily basis, but we’ve been told New Englanders **all** talk too damn fast. That’s okay, listening to a lot of those same southerners doing the complaining is painful because they talk sooooooo sllllloooooowwwwwlllllyyyyy. Not even southern, but I hate listening to Obama talk because he spends twice as long getting his words out as anyone I actually know. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 3:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-talk-fast-why/503743/23 "2009-07-22T03:40:18Z")
My speech is so rapid that I have been told that I must be doing it on purpose to be annoying. My daughter has the same problem. I have no idea why whe speak so fast, but most people I know speak on the faster side. I didn’t realize that until I began in sales and customer service. The people on the phone often have to remind me to slow down, and this is even though I am making an honest effort to speak slowly on the phone. I often just come clean with my customers and admit to them that I have a problem. (Sorry, Ms. Jones. I will try to slow it down, I know it is annoying to have to keep reminding me). The fact that I admit it seems to smooth them over and reassure them that I am not just a slick fast talking salesman. When I have to slow way down for my southern customers, it feels sooo awkward, to the point of me feeling as if I am mocking them or being silly on purpose. I genuinely feel like I am tallllkinnng innnnn slooowwww moooottttiooon… I also over articulate to a strong degree, because I have a pet peeve about repeating myself. So I know I am speaking clear as a bell. I pronounce words like I’ve had fucking elocution classes. Doesn’t matter though. They still want me to slow down. And I meant to post just a simple line or two on this topic, but got carried away, so I guess I talk a bit much along with talking fast. ---
**Author:** ![myskepticsight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cc9497/32.png) [@myskepticsight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/myskepticsight)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-talk-fast-why/503743/24 "2009-07-22T03:55:05Z")
> [@Beadalin](#): > > Reasons I talk too fast: > > 1. My brain (like everyone’s) moves so much faster than spoken words that I’m already five ideas ahead of whatever is coming out of my mouth. I don’t want to lose the concept that is in my head right now, so I speed through what’s left to be said. > > 2. If I am speaking publicly, I am nervous. That nervous energy translates into speed. I just want to get it over with. > > 3. The faster I go, the more certain I can be of not losing my train of thought or skipping key points. > > 4. I tend to assume (though I know it really isn’t true) that everyone understands the topic as well as I do. Speaking more slowly FEELS (again, I know this isn’t true) like I am being condescending, or speaking down to my audience, because I am going slower than my normal speed in order for them to follow me. > > It takes a tremendous conscious effort to slow the hell down. This is exactly what I would say, just add in what **Anaamika** said about being afraid of people stopping listening when I was younger as probably being a cause as well. My friends and family always give me shit about talking too fast, but it’s REALLY hard not to. I have to make a deliberate effort to talk at everyone else’s normal speed, then I feel like I sound retarded and slow as hell. But I do make an effort when it’s important to slow down, and I have noticed a slight improvement overall in getting my speed to a more normal level, because it’s frustrating as all get out to repeat myself all the time. ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-talk-fast-why/503743/25 "2009-07-22T03:55:45Z")
> [@Nzinga\_Seated](#): > > My speech is so rapid that I have been told that I must be doing it on purpose to be annoying. My daughter has the same problem. I have no idea why whe speak so fast, but most people I know speak on the faster side. > > I didn’t realize that until I began in sales and customer service. The people on the phone often have to remind me to slow down, and this is even though I am making an honest effort to speak slowly on the phone. I often just come clean with my customers and admit to them that I have a problem. (Sorry, Ms. Jones. I will try to slow it down, I know it is annoying to have to keep reminding me). The fact that I admit it seems to smooth them over and reassure them that I am not just a slick fast talking salesman. > > When I have to slow way down for my southern customers, it feels sooo awkward, to the point of me feeling as if I am mocking them or being silly on purpose. I genuinely feel like I am tallllkinnng innnnn slooowwww moooottttiooon… > > I also over articulate to a strong degree, because I have a pet peeve about repeating myself. So I know I am speaking clear as a bell. I pronounce words like I’ve had fucking elocution classes. Doesn’t matter though. They still want me to slow down. > > And I meant to post just a simple line or two on this topic, but got carried away, so I guess I talk a bit much along with talking fast. Clarity has little to with it, for me. It’s just that the rapidfire speech approach itself makes me feel uneasy. Anyone who uses it around here is really anxious. And I’m really empathic, So rapid-talkers often make me anxious. I don’t like being anxious. So I ask them to slow down. Oh, and whoever mentioned Obama’s slow talk–his actual words aren’t that slow. He just seems to take a while to think before he speaks. I appreciate that. But it is annoying waiting on him. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 4:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-talk-fast-why/503743/26 "2009-07-22T04:04:56Z")
> [@BigT](#): > > Clarity has little to with it, for me. It’s just that the rapidfire speech approach itself makes me feel uneasy. Anyone who uses it around here is really anxious. And I’m really empathic, So rapid-talkers often make me anxious. I don’t like being anxious. So I ask them to slow down. > > Oh, and whoever mentioned Obama’s slow talk–his actual words aren’t that slow. He just seems to take a while to think before he speaks. I appreciate that. But it is annoying waiting on him. My brother reminds me of Obama in that way. He thinks before he speaks. Imagine! Seriously though, it is annoying as hell waiting for him to pause and wait and give another lil’ piece, then pause again. Come on! And I think that was insightful as hell, what Mika said, upthread. I bet my fast talking ways has some root in being afraid that I would bore folks if I took my time. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 3:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-talk-fast-why/503743/27 "2009-07-22T15:12:15Z")
I’m so proud. 😛 Self-esteem issues have mostly been combatted. I say mostly because these days I often choose not to speak at all - mostly because I am comfortable in my opinions and don’t really like debating but I’m sure there’s a teensy bit of worry there too. But if so it’s hardly noticeable. Out of curiosity, why does the OP want to know? ---
**Author:** ![MeanOldLady](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/meanoldlady/32/10737_2.png) [@MeanOldLady](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MeanOldLady)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-talk-fast-why/503743/28 "2009-07-22T15:27:15Z")
Whoa, when did speaking fast become a sign of low self esteem and anxiety? Apparently, I need to see a shrink. ---
**Author:** ![Saintly\_Loser](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/saintly_loser/32/4045_2.png) [@Saintly\_Loser](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Saintly_Loser)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 3:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-talk-fast-why/503743/29 "2009-07-22T15:32:33Z")
> [@Chez\_Guevara](#): > > The object of your ire might just be somebody with a stammer. While the average person talks at roughly 130 words per minute, a stammerer might well run into trouble at that speed. Some therapists teach a slow speech method whereby the patient learns to drop his rate when encountering difficulties. I’ve listened to people talking at 60 wpm. It’s slow but it’s preferable to interrupted conversation. I stutter. Mildly, but it’s there, and has been all my life. Oddly, I find that if I speak _faster_, I don’t stutter as much. I feel like I’m getting all the words out before I can trip on a word. I didn’t learn this from a speech therapist, it’s just something that seems to work for me. ---
**Author:** ![Ruminator](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/b9bd4f/32.png) [@Ruminator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruminator)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 3:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-talk-fast-why/503743/30 "2009-07-22T15:44:08Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > Just curious as to whether it’s cultural, intellectual, occupational, or neurological. I’ve always talked fast. I believe it’s neurological. I also don’t like listening to slow (or even normal speed) speakers. One consequence is that I usually listen to educational audio CDs/MP3s at 4x playback speed. That level of acceleration sounds “right” to me although others have commented that it sounds like gibberish. A few presenters talk fast naturally so I have to dial them down a notch to 3x to make them intelligible. ---
**Author:** ![jayjay](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jayjay/32/6765_2.png) [@jayjay](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jayjay)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 3:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-talk-fast-why/503743/31 "2009-07-22T15:51:47Z")
I talk way fast. **supervenusfreak** tends to speak more slowly, pausing for (what feel to me to be) long periods of time to find the right words or to go over what he’s about to say (I assume). And it sometimes annoys the hell out of me, because I’m HANGING on the last word he said waiting for the continuation and IT’S NOT COMING!!! Sorry, dear… On the other hand, I know I annoy him sometimes, too, especially when I interrupt to either supply a word that I think he’s looking for or to argue with him before he’s finished his sentence. Both of those tick him off, and when I realize I’m doing it, I do try to rein it in. Another way we’ll annoy each other is this: I’ll say something and say it fast, because that’s my default speed. He’ll hear me say something, but he’ll have missed what the meaning was because it went by too quickly. So he’ll go “What?” And I’ll say it again louder, not realizing that it was the speed and not the volume that made it obscure. And he’ll say “What?” again. And I’ll get frustrated, realize that it was the speed I was speaking that was the problem, and slow things down. Unfortunately, I’ll also tend to spin the words on a kind of huffy attitude because by this time, I’m really annoyed. And he’ll pick up on the attitude and get annoyed himself. Doesn’t happen all the time, but it does happen. ---
**Author:** ![Anaamika](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@Anaamika](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Anaamika)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 3:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-talk-fast-why/503743/32 "2009-07-22T15:52:06Z")
> [@MeanOldLady](#): > > Whoa, when did speaking fast become a sign of low self esteem and anxiety? Apparently, I need to see a shrink. I don’t know if it’s a direct correlation all the time! Just in my case it was a matter of spitting the words out fast. ---
**Author:** ![Beware\_of\_Doug](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/278dde/32.png) [@Beware\_of\_Doug](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Beware_of_Doug)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 3:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-talk-fast-why/503743/33 "2009-07-22T15:53:48Z")
> [@Voyager](#): > > I can imagine that walking in NY is tense for some people, but not for me. I don’t get back very often, but when I do it is energizing. But are you _physically_ tense - locking your knees, for example, or keeping braced for collisions? In my experience, NY walking encourages that on a semi-conscious level. I wonder if fast talkers too may be unconsciously keyed-up. One other thing. We’re getting fast talkers to respond (thankyoufasttalkers). But not so much from people _listening_ to fast talk. There’s an unspoken stereotype that slow talkers are of low intellect. Well, I don’t perceive fast talk as a sign of a high intellect. More a high-_pressure_ intellect - the drive to get the most out in the least time. ---
**Author:** ![Chez\_Guevara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/aeb1de/32.png) [@Chez\_Guevara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chez_Guevara)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 5:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-talk-fast-why/503743/34 "2009-07-22T17:46:55Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > I stutter. Mildly, but it’s there, and has been all my life. > > Oddly, I find that if I speak _faster_, I don’t stutter as much. I feel like I’m getting all the words out before I can trip on a word. > > I didn’t learn this from a speech therapist, it’s just something that seems to work for me. Different techniques work for different people. Your method is interesting if only because I never met anyone who used it successfully. There’s no doubt that slowed speech is effective. It’s practically impossible to stammer speaking at 40 wpm, although you do risk your audience yawning and looking at their watches. But that sometimes happens if you get stuck on a word anyway. My stammer has practically disappeared, but I do occasionally slow down to about 90 wpm when using the phone. This is because in my early days I had people hang up on me because they thought the line had gone dead. Which it had, really. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Shot\_From\_Guns](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ccd318/32.png) [@Shot\_From\_Guns](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shot_From_Guns)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 7:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-talk-fast-why/503743/35 "2009-07-22T19:18:23Z")
I speak quickly, especially if I really get going on a topic. I’ve slowed down some since I was a kid, but my speech still probably quite a bit faster than most people’s. I was incredibly excited when I met my hematologist, because he’s one of the few people I’ve met who speaks about as quickly as I do. I can speak more slowly when I make a conscious effort, but it feels like slogging through wet cement. As others have noted, it also feels like I’m being condescending to my listener when I do that. I’m a very fast reader, too–IIRC, generally in the 750-1,200 WPM range, depending on the content. Anybody else notice a correlation there? ---
**Author:** ![perfectparanoia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a5b964/32.png) [@perfectparanoia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/perfectparanoia)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 7:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-talk-fast-why/503743/36 "2009-07-22T19:37:29Z")
> [@Saintly\_Loser](#): > > I stutter. Mildly, but it’s there, and has been all my life. > > Oddly, I find that if I speak _faster_, I don’t stutter as much. I feel like I’m getting all the words out before I can trip on a word. What he said. As an added benefit, I am efficient with my time and the time of those who are listening. My husband is a slow talker. Drives me batty. ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 7:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-talk-fast-why/503743/37 "2009-07-22T19:51:29Z")
> [@Shot\_From\_Guns](#): > > I’m a very fast reader, too–IIRC, generally in the 750-1,200 WPM range, depending on the content. Anybody else notice a correlation there? Nope. I am a slow reader, and often have to read the heavy stuff several times before I can make it stick and make sense. ---
**Author:** ![Voyager](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voyager/32/133_2.png) [@Voyager](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Voyager)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 8:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-talk-fast-why/503743/38 "2009-07-22T20:02:12Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > But are you _physically_ tense - locking your knees, for example, or keeping braced for collisions? In my experience, NY walking encourages that on a semi-conscious level. I wonder if fast talkers too may be unconsciously keyed-up. Not that I’ve ever noticed - perhaps because that is the place where I can easily walk my natural pace without feeling like a broken-field runner. > [@](#): > > One other thing. We’re getting fast talkers to respond (thankyoufasttalkers). But not so much from people _listening_ to fast talk. > > There’s an unspoken stereotype that slow talkers are of low intellect. Well, I don’t perceive fast talk as a sign of a high intellect. More a high-_pressure_ intellect - the drive to get the most out in the least time. I can see it perceived as high intellect in the sense that our minds are moving so quickly that the fast talk is an effort to keep up. Perhaps high pressure has a bit of intimidation in it? I once got sent to a presentations class because my Department Head said I had intimidated his boss - who was the most intimidating guy around. It wasn’t intentional. Might there be an element of energy in fast talk. Really slow speakers put me to sleep, or worse, I daydream, since I have read their slide, taken notes, and thought of several questions and implications before they finish bullet 2. Someone speaking more quickly (but not too quickly) forces the audience to stay sharp to keep up, and may come across as more energetic and interesting. Has anyone heard a boring fast talker? (Outside the Monty Python travel agent sketch, that is.) ---
**Author:** ![Nzinga\_Seated](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/b5ac83/32.png) [@Nzinga\_Seated](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nzinga_Seated)\ **Post date:** [July 22, 2009, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-talk-fast-why/503743/39 "2009-07-22T20:20:52Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > There’s an unspoken stereotype that slow talkers are of low intellect. Well, I don’t perceive fast talk as a sign of a high intellect. More a high-_pressure_ intellect - the drive to get the most out in the least time. But isn’t there a stereotype about slow talkers being more thoughtful? I mean, again, with my big brother…he is a very intelligent and thoughtful man. Sloowwww talker. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/do-you-talk-fast-why/503743.md?page=1)