Speech Rate of Non-Stuttering Spanish-Speaking Adults

Edna J. Carlo-Mirabal

This study presents normative data on speech rate of Spanish-speaking Puerto Rican adults without fluency disorders during three different speaking conditions: reading, conversation and monologue. Sixty, male and female, young adults, ages 21-30, participated in the study. Rate is described in SPM, WPM, SPS and WPS for both gender groups and according to speaking conditions. A comparison is presented of current speech rate measures and their applicability for use with Spanish speakers. Current results are compared with those reported for English speakers and other languages. Implications of these results for clinical intervention with people who stutter will be discussed.