Additional impetus for avoidance We have not conducted any formal evaluation of this. However, my observations and the observations of students in the clinical setting have indicated that there may be increased impetus for avoidance for some individuals who stuuter when they have to communicate with others of different backgrounds. The factors which seem significant are those related to language used, proficiency in a language and percieved power imbalances. Some individuals of African backgrounds have reported that they have a greater tendency to avoid converstaions with people of other cultural backgrounds especially if they arenot proficient in the language. The percievedpower imbalances between white and black people are sometimes reported.
Black clients feel threathened in such a situation and often results in a tendency to avoid.
Their expplanations for why they avoid relate to feelings of shame and embarrassment of stuttering and having to deal with stresses of cross cultural communication. Hope that makes sense. It is sometimes done as a natural part of communication to enhance meaning and sometimes to avoid stuttering. It happens more frequently in situations where the listener shares the same common language. I think my speech does affect my writting.