Fast talk

[AliasAggers]

Why is it that so many people today talk too fast?

It's a trend that is getting worse. Some time ago we bought a video of the film Legally Blond,
and neither my wife or I could understand a word that some of the main characters said, so
we gave it to a charity shop. This habit of talking too fast is becoming all too common now.

Now I know that someone will say that it is because of my age, but although that may, in some
cases, apply, it is not the sole reason. I am very keen on watching on TV some of the films that
I had first seen way back in the 1940's and 50's, and I have no problem what-so-ever in hearing
every word. It seems that, today, film producers are not requiring the actors to speak in, what
I would call, a proper stage manner, that was once the norm in the entertainment world, so it
would seem that it is the film producers who are not doing their job correctly.

This tendency for fast talking is even occurring in some television programmes now.

What do you think?

[JanB]

I've always talked rather quickly Aggers, so much so that even the English tell me to slow down.

Something I've always done, I'm afraid.

But I think it's more about the pronunciation, rather than speed talking.

[AliasAggers]

Yes, you may have a point there, Jan.

[meriad]

Same here Jan - I was always told to slow down when I spoke; it got to a point where it used to frustrate me no end I'd rather not start a conversation or just give up on it. School reading aloud with my mom was a nightmare and to this day I won't read loud in front of anyone - I hated it

I think Aggers a lot of the issue is that words themselves seem to have changed and the pronounciation isn't what we grew up with - I listen to my younger nephew and niece and just want to cringe at times

[TheOstrich]

Same here Jan - I was always told to slow down when I spoke; it got to a point where it used to frustrate me no end I'd rather not start a conversation or just give up on it. School reading aloud with my mom was a nightmare and to this day I won't read loud in front of anyone - I hated it

I'll be sending Mrs O over, then, Meriad - as a former teacher, she now volunteers at a local Primary School to listen to them read .....

I think Aggers a lot of the issue is that words themselves seem to have changed and the pronounciation isn't what we grew up with - I listen to my younger nephew and niece and just want to cringe at times

I guess I've always been a listener, never a talker, so I'm not too bad with "fast talkers", but where I get stumped is when people talk very quietly, especially in a crowded place - I've a long term hearing problem which means I often can't pick up high tones. Like down the supermarket checkout:

"And did you have a nice Christmas?"
"Ey? Wot? Sorry, didn't catch that ......"

[Kaz]

I still have trouble with the local accent here, and the speed! Even after 8 years of living here

[JoM]

It's accents that get me too Kaz, I really struggle with some.

[Weka]

Kiwis speak very fast. We might even possibly be the fastest in the English world. Over seas I had to make a conscious effort to slow down, a lot. However, even I struggle at times hearing what they have said on TV.