# Trump wasn’t always so linguistically challenged. What could explain the change? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [May 25, 2017, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402 "2017-05-25T06:01:59Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402/1 "2017-05-25T06:01:59Z")
I remember the Trump interviews in the 1980’s and 90’s. He was much more articulate. Someone that seemed capable of building Trump Enterprises using seed money from his dad. The guy we’ve seen the last couple years is very different. He may have more in common with Ronald Reagan than we realized. There are several quotes from old interviews in this article. STAT researchers admit that it could also be stress or fatigue. But Trump’s speech patterns have been unusual even at the beginning of the primary. > **[Trump wasn’t always so linguistically challenged. What could explain the change?](https://www.statnews.com/2017/05/23/donald-trump-speaking-style-interviews/)** > > STAT asked experts to compare Trump's speech from decades ago to that in 2017. All noticed deterioration, which may signal changes in Trump's brain health. > [@](#): > > STAT reviewed decades of Trump’s on-air interviews and compared them to Q&A sessions since his inauguration. The differences are striking and unmistakable. > > Research has shown that changes in speaking style can result from cognitive decline. STAT therefore asked experts in neurolinguistics and cognitive assessment, as well as psychologists and psychiatrists, to compare Trump’s speech from decades ago to that in 2017; they all agreed there had been a deterioration, and some said it could reflect changes in the health of Trump’s brain. > > In interviews Trump gave in the 1980s and 1990s (with Tom Brokaw, David Letterman, Oprah Winfrey, Charlie Rose, and others), he spoke articulately, used sophisticated vocabulary, inserted dependent clauses into his sentences without losing his train of thought, and strung together sentences into a polished paragraph, which — and this is no mean feat — would have scanned just fine in print. This was so even when reporters asked tough questions about, for instance, his divorce, his brush with bankruptcy, and why he doesn’t build housing for working-class Americans. ---
**Author:** ![Senegoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/senegoid/32/6606_2.png) [@Senegoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Senegoid)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 6:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402/2 "2017-05-25T06:38:07Z")
Surely everyone reading this has noticed by now, that there is widespread and increasing speculation (and it is only speculation) among the commentariat that he has Alzheimer’s. It may run in the fambly. His father had Alzheimers. ---
**Author:** ![aceplace57](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/aceplace57/32/3500_2.png) [@aceplace57](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/aceplace57)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 6:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402/3 "2017-05-25T06:45:19Z")
Early stage Alzheimer’s would explain a lot. It’s easy to forget just how much Trump accomplished in his early years. He’s always courted controversy but he never seemed unstable. The guy we’re seeing today seems totally out of control. Numerous reports of outbursts towards his White House staff. I’m concerned if he’ll get through even one term. ---
**Author:** ![Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/channing_idaho_banks/32/250_2.png) [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Channing_Idaho_Banks)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402/4 "2017-05-25T07:14:45Z")
That loser got lead poisoning from drinking out of his golden toilet. Sad! Preexisting condition is not covered! ---
**Author:** ![Quartz](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quartz/32/267_2.png) [@Quartz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quartz)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 10:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402/5 "2017-05-25T10:06:18Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > I remember the Trump interviews in the 1980’s and 90’s. He was much more articulate. ISTM his style of speech is deliberate. He’s speaking to a particular audience. One that likes plain simple speech. ---
**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 10:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402/6 "2017-05-25T10:59:34Z")
He’s senile. ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 11:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402/7 "2017-05-25T11:41:52Z")
From the study, it could be due to stress, anger, etc. > [@](#): > > The experts noted clear changes from Trump’s unscripted answers 30 years ago to those in 2017, in some cases stark enough to raise questions about his brain health. They noted, however, that the same sort of linguistic decline can also reflect stress, frustration, anger, or just plain fatigue. . ---
**Author:** ![BobLibDem](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/boblibdem/32/3149_2.png) [@BobLibDem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobLibDem)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 12:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402/8 "2017-05-25T12:08:04Z")
> [@aceplace57](#): > > It’s easy to forget just how much Trump accomplished in his early years. What did he accomplish? Choosing wealthy parents? He got more money from his father than most people earn in a lifetime. He conned and stole to get what more. His credit was so bad in the US that he had to sell his soul to the Russians to keep his cash flow. He bankrupted several businesses. He lost money on a casino, of all things. If this is success, I’ll take failure. > [@](#): > > I’m concerned if he’ll get through even one term. I’m concerned that he’s going to serve as much as a partial term. The guy is a moron. He’s too stupid to stop incriminating himself. His utter lack of curiosity of the world around him has made him a laughingstock across the planet. Any “success” he had in the past has been grossly exaggerated. ---
**Author:** ![FoieGrasIsEvil](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foiegrasisevil/32/16638_2.png) [@FoieGrasIsEvil](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FoieGrasIsEvil)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 12:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402/9 "2017-05-25T12:18:59Z")
Cocaine ---
**Author:** ![Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/6bbea6/32.png) [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Living_Well_Is_Best_Revenge)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 12:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402/10 "2017-05-25T12:47:46Z")
Advanced syphilis ---
**Author:** ![Crotalus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crotalus/32/41_2.png) [@Crotalus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crotalus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 1:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402/11 "2017-05-25T13:14:54Z")
> [@BobLibDem](#): > > What did he accomplish? Choosing wealthy parents? He got more money from his father than most people earn in a lifetime. He conned and stole to get what more. His credit was so bad in the US that he had to sell his soul to the Russians to keep his cash flow. He bankrupted several businesses. He lost money on a casino, of all things. If this is success, I’ll take failure. > > I’m concerned that he’s going to serve as much as a partial term. > > The guy is a moron. He’s too stupid to stop incriminating himself. His utter lack of curiosity of the world around him has made him a laughingstock across the planet. Any “success” he had in the past has been grossly exaggerated. Someone posted a link in another thread to a [list of Donald Trump’s business disasters](http://gawker.com/a-complete-list-of-donald-trump-s-business-disasters-1764151188). It ought to be required reading for anyone still touting him as a successful business man. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402/12 "2017-05-25T13:18:11Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > ISTM his style of speech is deliberate. He’s speaking to a particular audience. One that likes plain simple speech. There’s a difference, though, between direct speech that is coherent and plain, simple speech that runs around in circles like his does in unscripted situations. It really is odd. ---
**Author:** ![JackieLikesVariety](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jackielikesvariety/32/296_2.png) [@JackieLikesVariety](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JackieLikesVariety)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 1:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402/13 "2017-05-25T13:21:02Z")
> [@Living\_Well\_Is\_Best\_Revenge](#): > > Advanced syphilis it really could be this or Alzheimer’s disease (I don’t know about “early” onset, he isn’t that young) what is it with republicans electing men with dementia? is it just because they make good puppets? > [@](#): > > He’s speaking to a particular audience. One that likes plain simple speech. I doubt you actually believe this - unless you really aren’t p > [@](#): > aying attention. > [@](#): > > Someone posted a link in another thread to a list of Donald Trump’s business disasters. It ought to be required reading for anyone still touting him as a successful business man. yes it should!! he has been a CON man successfully but that was when he was younger and could speak in complete sentences. ---
**Author:** ![carnivorousplant](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/carnivorousplant/32/3563_2.png) [@carnivorousplant](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/carnivorousplant)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 1:24pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402/14 "2017-05-25T13:24:31Z")
> [@Channing\_Idaho\_Banks](#): > > That loser got lead poisoning from drinking out of his golden toilet. Sad! > > Preexisting condition is not covered! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![JRDelirious](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jrdelirious/32/9531_2.png) [@JRDelirious](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JRDelirious)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 2:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402/15 "2017-05-25T14:42:45Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > There’s a difference, though, between direct speech that is coherent and plain, simple speech that runs around in circles like his does in unscripted situations. It really is odd. OTOH the positive reinforcement he gets for it – both spontaneous (fans) and compelled (people who depend on his favor) does not help. It only reassures him he’s got the best words and thoughts. ---
**Author:** ![kayaker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kayaker/32/441_2.png) [@kayaker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kayaker)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402/16 "2017-05-25T14:49:31Z")
> [@JackieLikesVariety](#): > > what is it with republicans electing men with dementia? is it just because they make good puppets? No puppet. You’re the puppet.:mad: /channeling trump ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402/17 "2017-05-25T14:59:58Z")
He’s also now being forced to talk about stuff he doesn’t give two shits about. The American People, poor people, inner city people, the economy as it relates to other people, national defense of other people who aren’t him. He not only doesn’t \*know \*anything about those topics, he also doesn’t \*care \*about them. ---
**Author:** ![Procrustus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/procrustus/32/2994_2.png) [@Procrustus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Procrustus)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 3:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402/18 "2017-05-25T15:21:18Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > He’s also now being forced to talk about stuff he doesn’t give two shits about. The American People, poor people, inner city people, the economy as it relates to other people, national defense of other people who aren’t him. He not only doesn’t \*know \*anything about those topics, he also doesn’t \*care \*about them. Heck, he doesn’t even care about a fucking wall, and his whole campaign was based on it. But I agree, as someone posted in another thread, he was always an asshole, but not always such an inarticulate one. ---
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 3:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402/19 "2017-05-25T15:45:20Z")
> [@Quartz](#): > > ISTM his style of speech is deliberate. He’s speaking to a particular audience. One that likes plain simple speech. That’s the whole point of this thread. Trump doesn’t use plain simple speech. He rambles all over the place. ---
**Author:** ![TriPolar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tripolar/32/3008_2.png) [@TriPolar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TriPolar)\ **Post date:** [May 25, 2017, 4:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402/20 "2017-05-25T16:02:39Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > From the study, it could be due to stress, anger, etc. > > . A combination of those factors, plus he’s not in his area of expertise. I think he used to prepare better for business, he’s just going off the cuff with everything now, it worked in the election for him and I think he’s convinced he can bullshit his way through anything now. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/trump-wasn-t-always-so-linguistically-challenged-what-could-explain-the-change/787402.md?page=2)