Is how fluent you speak (your native tongue) connected to intelligence?

Question

My native language is English. When i speak, i somtimes stammer because i'm afraid i do not choose the most accurate word that fits within the context of the sentence. I also mess up on prepositions which make me sound funny. For example: (This is a Bush blunder but it's similar to me) "We have to work hard so we can put food ON our family." It's supposed to be food on our family's table or food in our family's stomach. I can't describe in great detail my speech problems, but i think they are not a big big deal. It's just that i plain on delivering a lot of speeches when i get older, and i need to get speaking down pat. So i'm trying to develop techniques so that i can those types of verbal gaffes. I was just hoping if it's possible, or is it because of my low intelligence. These series of questions i'm going to ask are really basic, so please bear with me.

1)After someone finishes what they have to say and expect a response back, do you 1) allow a few seconds to elapse because you’re thinking of the most appropriate thing to say back, 2) you speak immediately after the person is done and just spontaneously improvise without forethought, 3) answer in monosyllabic words because you’re too lazy to formulate something?
I’m more number 1 because I can’t spontaneously generate something to say. I try to say something in my head before I make it audible for the recipient to hear.

2)Does writing help make someone more of an eloquent speaker?

3)When speaking, do you toss in a lot of “um”s and “like” and other filler words to try and avoid an awkward transition?

4)If you don’t add filler words, what’s your trick for having a naturally flowing sentence?

Answer 1

Yes, fluency is related to intelligence. But I have two things to say on that issue.

First, what you described is not a fluency issue, it is a confidence issue. One thing that would help would be to join an organization like ToastMasters to gain confidence in public speaking. Confidence comes with time and experience.

The second thing I would like to say is that the brain is like a muscle, and intelligence is to the brain what strength is to the muscles. If you exercise your brain, you will grow in intelligence. Just keep reading, writing and your intelligence and confidence in your abilities will continue to grow.

Now to answer your other questions:

1. I generally find myself thinking about what someone is saying as they are talking, and thinking about what my answer will be, so I rarely have to pause to think before answering.

2. Writing helps, but you need to practice speaking to get better at it.

3. I don't, but I had to train myself out of it. I used to do this quite often.

4. practice.

Answer 2

This is only a guess, but I would say that there is either somewhat of a negative correlation between the two things, or no correlation at all. I would say that the majority the most fluent speakers I know are dumber than a pile of bricks. Some are very intelligent. For example, one lady very close to me (god bless her) loves to talk, and can tell a great, sensational story but can't fill out forms or understand simple diagrams. On the other hand, some of the most intelligent people I know are extremely quiet and make many mistakes when stringing sentences together. Don't look at Bush, he's just an idiot.

Anyway, when it comes to languages, practically the only way to learn how to speak is by speaking. If you take more risks and talk more, you will eventually learn how to flow your words better. When it comes to writing, one can be a good writer but suck when it comes to speaking. Try to speak on impulse more often, and you will slowly learn how to speak more effectively. Once upon a time I hardly spoke at all, because I didn't need to. I could go to school and come home without saying a word. As a result? I stammered and made many mistakes when I did speak. I think before I speak too, but now I think faster and know when I can answer on impulse and when to think before I talk.

Don't worry so much about your intelligence. You seem pretty intelligent to me to come up with such a question in the first place.

Answer 3

Actually, fluency in one's language (or in a foreign language) IS a sign of intelligence.

BUT... Don't be pessimistic. Linguistic intelligence is only ONE TYPE of intelligence. Gardner has identified 7 (or 8, can't remember). Other intelligences are: mathematical-logical, bodily, musical, kinesthetic, etc.

Moreover, you CAN improve your linguistic skills (which is what school is supposed to be about: develop all your skill). Reading is a good way to improve your vocabulary, and also writing because you are using new words and structuring your thought. Of course, you don't have to still be in school to do that!

Also, some people are simply more confident when they are writing than when they are speaking, which seems to be your case. That's my case as well (just in case I made mistakes here: English is not my mother-tongue) because I used to be very shy. But it's getting better! You say that you are "afraid" you do not "choose the most accurate word", so that may be why you keep on mixing words. Just relax! I know it's easier said than done...

Don't worry. I'm sure with a bit of training, you'll get over it. Some people are really gifted with words (you know, like poets, writers, stand-up comedians, a lot of politicians, etc.), and you'll probably never be, and neither will I! But that's fine! All you need is probably a bit more confidence in your linguistic abilities, which can be boosted by incresaing your vocabulary and... just relaxing! Also, the more speeches you'll give, the easier it will be. You can practice in front of someone you're comfortable talking to. Something else you could do is taping speeches on TV and watching them again. Try to analyze their speech (vocabulary, grammar, body movements, etc.). I'm sure you can also find great speeches transcribed.

Oh! By the way, I also read in a psychology magazine that people who make blunders do so sometimes because they used to do it when they were younger, and their parents didn't really react in the right way (maybe they became exasperated, or stuff like that). So you end up following a pattern.

Anyway. Good luck! And I'm sure your intelligence is fine! I definitely believe you're just not confident enough, so just build up your vocabulary, and you should be ok!

Answer 4

Being fluent in your native tongue has nothing to do with intelligence. In fact, being fluent in a foreign tongue doesn't make you a genius either. Fluency is basically judged by if you're able to be understood well by others and you can understand them. If you can read things for your age level, write (at about) your age level, have a real conversation with a person and not just "nice weather, huh," and everything is comprehensible to you and the other party just about equals fluency.
Making minor mistakes in your speaking doesn't mean you have a low or high intelligence, it just means you fumble your words; probably because you think ahead to the end of a sentence before your mouth is ready to speak. Therefore, you end up skipping over some things unintentionally.


1. I am 1 and 2. It depends on the person and the type of conversation. If it's informal, I'll just talk right away. If it's formal, however, then I will give myself some time to think because that's what is expected.

No, it makes them more eloquent of a writer. However, dictating your writing to something like a recorder, then playing it back and typing (or writing) what you hear can help you.

3. Again, this depends on the situation. With friends and the like, I say "um" and other filler words a lot, but more because I jump ahead a lot myself and need to pause every one in a while to let my brain and mouth catch up with each other.

4. Talk slowly. People talk fast; faster than they can think up new things to say. To fix this, they throw in "um" or what-have-you to think of something new. However, when you speak at a calm pace you can think up things to say while speaking and not have to stop yourself to create something more.

Answer 5

The way you interact with other human beings should not be confounded with your intrinsic intellegence (whether it is linguistic, emotional or logical). Here's the perfect example for someone like you: Einstein did not begin speaking until the age of three and only did so hesitantly, even beyond the age of eight. There are many ways you can build up your confidence level. I'm not a psychologist but all I know is that we are all different. I don't know if people ever really change but there are so many ways you can make your life easier and less stressful. I do think that being confident changes one's mental universe in-depth. But remember that if this confidence is not genuine, it will probably cause you more difficulties than it would have, had you stayed natural.... Being shy is all right. Most of us have been there for awhile but you should know that this personality trait will NOT prevent you from achieving great things in life." Happy New Year...

Answer 6

Stay cool, move ahead, if you can't help it you can't help it. The more you engage in conversation the less often it will happen, and it will be less disturbing when it happens.

I can only recommend one thing: that you must engage in conversation as often as you can, it is the only way to inure your brain to finding words quickly and accurately. I think the act of writing and self talking can help a little, but the neural paths are different from the ones involved in interactive conversation, so you must practice with other people to get good results.

If you stammer, or use an inappropriate word, please have in mind that is no big deal if you are able to make yourself understood. The more you practice, the less mistakes you will make, and you will be able to correct yourself on the mark without bringing any attention to your error. Your focus should always be on getting your point across, and if you stammer sometimes don't worry about it, it is a part of your self, you can't help it, it doesn't mean you're unintelligent, one may be quick witted and yet stammer.

Answer 7

Writing can improve your speaking skills by allowing you to see your thoughts out on paper and editing them as necessary until it sounds right. Eventually your brain will get better at doing that process in your head.

In answer to question #1, I'm more of a 2. I just start talking and make up the sentence as I go. Yes, I use little "filler" words every now and then, but usually it comes out right even if I trip over my words a bit in long sentences :)

Answer 8

I am the same way... but if I got a 100 on my english midterm, I think it is just because you cannot organize your thoughts. But lately my speech has improved my speaking to a friend online, but we use poper english, not this AIM speech most people use. Just try writitng, it will hep you out. And if you do IM a friend, try to get a friend that is intelligent, just so you can improve, not that you aren't smart.... I am just going to stop now...

But I highly doubt your speaking skills deal with your intelligence.

Answer 9

I recommend that you have yourself evaluated by a psychologist and/or speech pathologist. It sounds like you may have a processing problem, not an intelligence problem.