Preliminary Speech Rate Normative Data in Adult Jordanian Speakers

Abstract

Studies conducted to establish normative data on speech rate; including speaking and articulation rate, for the Jordanian Arabic dialect are scarce. Aim: to establish preliminary normative data on speaking and articulation rate for the adult male and female Jordanian Arabic speakers. Methodology: The sample of the study comprised 51 participants (23 males and 28 females), age (18-25 yrs, mean 20.82 yrs ±1.52). Spontaneous speech and reading samples were collected from participants. Results: Means of articulation rates during the tasks of spontaneous speech and reading passage were (140.07 w/m, 161.83 w/m, respectively), while the means of speaking rates during the tasks of spontaneous speech and reading passage were (124.51w/m, 141.36w/m, respectively). The ANOVA showed no significant differences (p=0.237) attributed to the effect gender on the articulation or the speaking rates in both tasks of spontaneous speech and reading passage. Pearson-r test showed moderate-strong positive correlations between articulation and speaking rates during both the reading passage and the spontaneous speech tasks (p<0.01, r = 0.416; p <0.001, r = 0.962, respectively). Conclusion: this study can be of a clinical significance in the evaluation and treatment of fluency, articulation and motor speech disorders.