PSYCHOLINGUISTIC ANALYSIS OF THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE GENDER OF THE SPEAKER AND THE TYPES OF SPEECH DISFLUENCIES

Abstract

The aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between gender and speech disfluency production. By disfluencies, we mean the following occurrences: filled pauses, hesitations, prolongations, false starts, and repetitions. The
fluency of speech depends on both linguistic and non-linguistic factors. Therefore, speech disfluencies have been examined in different disciplines. The database of the current study is the sound recordings of 84 participants whose native
language is Turkish. Participants were selected and grouped according to age, gender, and educational level variables.
The speech data obtained from the interviews was transcribed and analyzed for speech disfluency production rates.
Each type of speech disfluency was marked separately and then the Mann-Whitney U Test was used to calculate the
average number of speech disfluency types per 100 words produced by each speaker. As a result of the analyses, the
production rates of filled pauses, hesitations, prolongations, false starts, and repetitions were determined in the speeches
of Turkish speakers. Each type of speech disfluency was analyzed in terms of the gender of the speaker. According to
statistical analyses, there were differences in the production rates of each type of speech disfluencies regarding gender
variable and these differences are given in detail in the current study. However, it can be said that many types of speech
disfluencies are more common in men than in women.