Diversity of Speech and Societal Attitudes Towards It in the Context of Stuttering – What Are You Stuttering About?
The goal of the "Mitä sä änkytät?" (What are you stuttering?) –research project is to examine the perceptions and prejudices associated with stuttering, to investigate the impact of stuttering in the workplace, and to increase the societal visibility of people who stutter. In addition to scientific research, the "What Are You Stuttering About?" –project also engages in participatory social advocacy.
Speech diversity refers to the range of different ways people speak. This can also be described by the term "speech realism," which encompasses the idea of various individual speech rhythms, accents, and pronunciation styles included in speech variation. This three-year research project, funded by the Kone Foundation, studies speech diversity exclusively in the context of stuttering.
The project is led by Nelly Penttilä, an adjunct professor and university lecturer in logopedics at Tampere University.
The project team includes the following members:
- Post-doctoral researcher Veera Pirinen (logopedics)
- Doctoral researcher Johanna Nissinen (logopedics)
- Research assistant Oskari Piilonen (logopedics)
- Tenure track professor Melisa Stevanovic (social psychology)
- Doctoral researcher Tuomas Tervasmäki (educational sciences)
- Laura Raerinne (The Finnish Stuttering Association)
Background
Developmental stuttering occurs in all cultures around the world, affecting approximately 2% of the population. In Finland, this equates to over 100,000 people. International studies have shown that societal prejudices negatively impact the quality of life, participation, and mental health of people who stutter. Based on our previous publications, individuals who stutter also face discrimination and bullying in Finnish society. Stuttering, therefore, has significant long-term effects on a person's life on psychological, social, and economic levels.
Fluent speech is often seen as the norm that speakers should strive for, which leads individuals who stutter to hide their stuttering or alter their speech. Stuttering is a permanent speech characteristic and persists throughout life. However, increasing awareness about stuttering and accepting speech diversity can promote equality and psychological well-being for people who stutter. What if our society viewed stuttering as just another speech characteristic, like a dialect or an accent? What impacts could breaking down prejudices related to stuttering have on the well-being, agency, and participation of people who stutter?
Goal
The "Mitä sä änkytät?" –research project examines the long-term effects of stuttering in the workplace context, studies societal attitudes towards stuttering, and critically considers the potential limitations these attitudes create, which undermine the agency, participation, and well-being of people who stutter.
The "Mitä sä änkytät?" –research project aims primarily to make stuttering visible in our society, thus promoting a shift towards a more inclusive society where everyone can feel valued and heard, regardless of how they speak.
Impact
By increasing awareness of stuttering and accepting the diversity of speech, we can promote equality and mental well-being for people who stutter. The goal of the "Mitä sä änkytät?" –research project is to initiate discussions on the topic and encourage people to reconsider their attitudes towards stuttering speech. In this way, the project aims to change prevailing negative and outdated attitudes and increase acceptance of speech diversity in our society. In an inclusive society, stuttering would not be a limiting factor in obtaining a place in education, advancing in a career, or gaining media visibility
Funding
Funding source
People
Nelly Penttilä
University Lecturer, (logopedia)
Nelly PenttiläContact persons
Nelly Penttilä
University Lecturer, (logopedia)Nelly Penttilä