define wandering speech

5 Ways of Delivering Speeches

Understanding Delivery Modes

In this chapter . . .

In this chapter, we will explore the three modes of speech delivery: impromptu, manuscript, and extemporaneous. Each offers unique advantages and potential challenges. An effective public speaker needs to be familiar with each style so they can use the most appropriate mode for any speech occasion.

In writing, there’s only one way of delivering the text: the printed word on a page. Public Speaking, however, gives you different ways to present your text. These are called the delivery modes , or simply, ways of delivering speeches. The three modes are impromptu delivery , manuscript delivery , and extemporaneous delivery . Each of these involves a different relationship between a speech text, on the one hand, and the spoken word, on the other. These are described in detail below.

Impromptu Delivery

Impromptu speaking is a short form speech given with little to no preparation. While being asked to stand in front of an audience and deliver an impromptu speech can be anxiety-producing, it’s important to remember that  impromptu speaking is something most people do without thinking in their daily lives . If you introduce yourself to a group, answer an open-ended question, express an opinion, or tell a story, you’re using impromptu speaking skills. While impromptus can be stressful, the more you do it the easier it becomes.

Preparation for Impromptu Delivery

The difficulty of impromptu speaking is that there is no way to prepare, specifically, for that moment of public speaking. There are, however, some things you can do to stay ready in case you’re called upon to speak unrehearsed.

For one, make sure your speaking instruments (your voice and body) are warmed up, energized, and focused. It could be helpful to employ some of the actor warm-up techniques mentioned earlier as part of an everyday routine. If appropriate to the impromptu speaking situation, you could even ask to briefly step aside and warm yourself up so that you feel relaxed and prepared.

Furthermore, a good rule when brainstorming for an impromptu speech is that your first idea is your best. You can think about impromptu speaking like improvisation: use the “yes, and” rule and trust your instincts. You’ll likely not have time to fully map out the speech, so don’t be too hard on yourself to find the “perfect” thing to say. You should let your opinions and honest thoughts guide your speaking. While it’s easy to look back later and think of approaches you should have used, try to avoid this line of thinking and trust whatever you come up with in the moment.

Finally, as you prepare to speak, remind yourself what your purpose is for your speech. What is it that you hope to achieve by speaking? How do you hope your audience feels by the end? What information is most important to convey? Consider how you’ll end your speech. If you let your purpose guide you, and stay on topic throughout your speech, you’ll often find success.

Delivery of Impromptu Speeches

Here is a step-by-step guide that may be useful if you’re called upon to give an impromptu speech:

• Thank the person for inviting you to speak. Don’t make comments about being unprepared, called upon at the last moment, on the spot, or uneasy.
• Deliver your message, making your main point as briefly as you can while still covering it adequately and at a pace your listeners can follow.
• Stay on track. If you can, use a structure, using numbers if possible: “Two main reasons . . .” or “Three parts of our plan. . .” or “Two side effects of this drug. . .” Past, present, and future or East Coast, Midwest, and West Coast are common structures.
• Thank the person again for the opportunity to speak.
• Stop talking when you are finished (it’s easy to “ramble on” when you don’t have something prepared). If in front of an audience, don’t keep talking as you move back to your seat. Finish clearly and strong.

Impromptu speeches are most successful when they are brief and focus on a single point.

Another helpful framing technique for impromptus is to  negate the premise.  This is the deliberate reframing of a given prompt in a way that acknowledges the original but transitions into talking about the topic in a different way than expected. Negating the premise can be an effective rhetorical technique if used carefully and can help you focus your response on a topic that you’re interested in talking about.

If you suddenly run out of things to say in the middle of your speech, be open to  pivoting . Giving another example or story is the easiest way to do this. What’s important is to not panic or allow yourself to ramble aimlessly. No matter what, remember to keep breathing.

Finally, the greatest key to success for improving impromptu speaking is practice. Practice speaking without rehearsal in low-stakes environments if you can (giving a toast at a family dinner, for example). But remember this: no one is expecting the “perfect” speech if you’re called upon to speak impromptu. It’s okay to mess up. As Steven Tyler of the rock band Aerosmith would say: dare to suck. Take a risk and make a bold choice. What is most important is to stay sure of yourself and your knowledge.

Manuscript Delivery

The opposite of an impromptu speech is the manuscript speech. This involves having the complete text of your speech written out on paper or on notecards. You may be reading the speech from a computer or a teleprompter. In some cases, the speaker memorizes this manuscript.

Manuscript delivery  is the word-for-word iteration of a written message. In a manuscript speech, the speaker maintains their attention on the printed page except when using visual aids. The advantage of reading from a manuscript is the exact repetition of original words. In some circumstances, this can be extremely important.

Advantages & Disadvantages to Manuscript Delivery

There are many advantages in speaking from a manuscript. Some people find they are less nervous when they have the whole text in front of them. If you get lost or flustered during the speech you can glance down and get back on track. For speakers who struggle with vocalized pauses, it can be easier to know exactly what you want to say so that you’re not searching for the right word. Some people prefer to carefully craft the language of their speech instead of just having a sense of the main point and expounding upon it. Particularly if there are a lot of statistics or quotations, it can be helpful to have the whole passage written out to make sure you not only convey it correctly but frame it in the right context. It’s also easier to rehearse and time a manuscript speech, thus making sure it stays within time limits and isn’t unexpectedly too short or long. For some formal occasions or events that may be emotional for the speaker, such as a funeral, using a manuscript may be the best approach.

There are some disadvantages in delivering a speech from a manuscript. Having a manuscript in front of you often encourages looking down and reading the speech instead of performing it. A lack of eye contact makes the audience feel less engaged. The speech can feel stilted and lacking energy. Some speakers may feel constrained and that they can’t deviate from their script. Furthermore, while some find it easier to find their place with a quick glance down having the full manuscript, others find it difficult to avoid losing their place. If you go off script it can be harder to recover.

Successful Manuscript Delivery

A successful manuscript delivery requires a dynamic performance that includes lots of eye contact, animated vocals, and gestures. This can only be accomplished if you’re very familiar with the manuscript. Delivering a manuscript that you have written but only spoken aloud once before delivery will most often result in stumbling over words and eyes locked to the page. You’ll be reading aloud  at  your audience, instead of speaking  to  them. Remember what it’s like in school when a teacher asks a student to stand up and read something aloud? If the student isn’t familiar with the text, it can be a struggle both for the reader and the audience.

The key to avoiding this problem is to practice your written speech as much as you can, at least five or six times. You want to get so familiar with your speech that you can take your eyes off the page and make frequent eye contact with your audience. When you’re very familiar with your speech, your tone of speaking becomes more conversational. The text flows more smoothly and you begin to sound like a speaker, not a reader. You can enjoy the presentation and your audiences will enjoy it as well.

To improve your skills at manuscript delivery, practice reading written content aloud. This allows you to focus exclusively on delivery instead of worrying about writing a speech first. In particular, reading dialogue or passages from theatre plays, film/television scripts, or books provides material that is intended to be expressive and emotive. The goal is to deliver the content in a way that is accessible, interesting, alive, and engaging for the audience.

To Memorize or Not to Memorize

One way to overcome the problem of reading from the page is to memorize your word-for-word speech. When we see TED Talks, for example, they are usually memorized.

Memorized speaking  is the delivery of a written message that the speaker has committed to memory. Actors, of course, recite from memory whenever they perform from a script. When it comes to speeches, memorization can be useful when the message needs to be exact, and the speaker doesn’t want to be confined by notes.

The advantage to memorization is that it enables the speaker to maintain eye contact with the audience throughout the speech. However, there are some real and potential costs. Obviously, memorizing a seven-minute speech takes a great deal of time and effort, and if you’re not used to memorizing, it’s difficult to pull off.

For strategies on how to successfully memorize a speech, refer to the “Memorization” section in the chapter “ From Page to Stage .”

Extemporaneous Delivery

Remember the fairy tale about Goldilocks and the Three Bears? One bed is too soft, the other bed is too hard, and finally one is just right? Extemporaneous delivery combines the best of impromptu and manuscript delivery. Like a manuscript speech, the content is very carefully prepared. However, instead of a word-for-word manuscript, the speaker delivers from a carefully crafted outline. Therefore, it has elements of impromptu delivery to it. We call this type of speaking extemporaneous ( the word comes from the Latin  ex tempore,  literally “out of time”).

Extemporaneous delivery  is the presentation of a carefully planned and rehearsed speech, spoken in a conversational manner using brief notes. By using notes rather than a full manuscript, the extemporaneous speaker can establish and maintain eye contact with the audience and assess how well they understand the speech as it progresses. Without all the words on the page to read, you have little choice but to look up and make eye contact with your audience.

For an extemporaneous speech, the speaker uses a carefully prepared outline. We will discuss how to create an effective outline in the chapters on speechwriting.

Advantages & Disadvantages of Extemporaneous Delivery

Speaking extemporaneously has some major advantages. As mentioned above, without having a text to be beholden to it’s much easier to make eye contact and engage with your audience. Extemporaneous speaking also allows flexibility; you’re working from the solid foundation of an outline, but if you need to delete, add, or rephrase something at the last minute or to adapt to your audience, you can do so. Therefore, the audience is more likely to pay better attention to the message. Furthermore, it promotes the likelihood that you, the speaker, will be perceived as knowledgeable and credible since you know the speech well enough that you don’t need to read it. The outline also helps you be aware of main ideas vs. subordinate ones. For many speakers, an extemporaneous approach encourages them to feel more relaxed and to have more fun while speaking. If you’re enjoying presenting your speech the audience will sense that and consequently, they will enjoy it more.

A disadvantage of extemporaneous speaking is that it requires substantial rehearsal to achieve the verbal and nonverbal engagement that is required for a good speech. Adequate preparation can’t be achieved the day before you’re scheduled to speak. Be aware that if you want to present an engaging and credible extemporaneous speech, you’ll need to practice many times. Your practice will need to include both the performative elements as well as having a clear sense of the content you’ll cover. As mentioned previously, an extemporaneous speech can also be harder to have consistent and predictable timing. While delivering the speech it’s more likely you’ll wander off on a tangent, struggle to find the words you want, or forget to mention crucial details. Furthermore, if you get lost it may be harder to get yourself back on track.

Successful Extemporaneous Delivery

Like other delivery modes, a dynamic performance on an extemporaneous delivery is one that includes lots of eye contact, animated vocals, and gestures. At the same time, you want a speech that is structured and focused, not disorganized and wandering.

One strategy to succeed in extemporaneous speaking is to begin by writing out a full manuscript of your speech. This allows you to map out all the information that will be covered in each main point and sub-point. This method also gives you a better sense of your timing and flow than starting from just an outline. Another approach is to write out an outline that is less complete than a manuscript but still detailed. This will be used only for preparation; once you have a clear sense of the content you can reduce it down to a streamlined performance outline which you’ll use when delivering the actual speech.

By the time of presentation, an extemporaneous speech becomes a mixture of memorization and improvisation. You’ll need to be familiar enough with your content and structure that you cover everything, and it flows with logical transitions. Simultaneously, you must be willing to make changes and adapt in the moment. Hence, thorough rehearsal is critical. While this approach takes more time, the benefits are worth the extra effort required.

When you’re asked to prepare a speech for almost any occasion except last-minute speeches, you must choose either a manuscript or extemporaneous approach. As you experiment with assorted styles of public speaking, you’ll find you prefer one style of delivery over the other. Extemporaneous speaking can be challenging, especially for beginners, but it’s the preferred method of most experienced public speakers. However, the speaking occasion may dictate which method will be most effective.

Online Delivery

Impromptu, manuscript, and extemporaneous speaking are delivery modes . They describe the relationship between the speaker and the script according to the level of preparation (minutes or weeks) and type of preparation (manuscript or outline). Until now, we have assumed that the medium for the speech is in-person before an audience. Medium means the means or channel through which something is communicated. The written word is a medium. In art, sculpture is a medium. For in-person public speaking, the medium is the stage. For online public speaking, the medium is the camera.

The Online Medium

Public speakers very often communicate via live presentation. However, we also use the medium of recordings, shared through online technology. We see online or recorded speaking in many situations. A potential employer might ask for a short video self-presentation. Perhaps you’re recording a “How-To” video for YouTube. A professor asks you to create a presentation to post to the course website. Or perhaps an organization has solicited proposals via video. Maybe a friend who lives far away is getting married and those who can’t attend send a video toast. While this textbook can’t address all these situations, below are three important elements to executing recorded speeches.

Creating Your Delivery Document

As with an in-person speech, it’s important to consider all the given circumstances of the speech occasion. Why are you speaking? What is the topic? How much time do you have to prepare? How long is this speech? In online speeches, having a sense of your audience is critical. Not only who are they, but where are they? You may be speaking live to people across the country or around the world. If they are in a different time zone it may influence their ability to listen and respond, particularly if it’s early, late, or mealtime. If you’re recording a speech for a later audience, do you know who that audience will be?

As with in-person speeches, different speech circumstances suggest one of three delivery modes: impromptu, extemporaneous, or manuscript. Whether your medium is live or camera, to prepare you must know which of the three delivery modes  you’ll be using. Just because a speech is online does not mean it doesn’t need preparation and a delivery text.

Technical Preparation

To prepare for online speaking, you’ll want to practice using your online tools. To begin, record yourself speaking so you have a sense of the way your voice sounds when mediated. Consider practicing making eye contact with your camera so that you feel comfortable with your desired focal point. In addition, consider how to best set up your speaking space. It may take some experimenting to find the best camera angle and position. Consider lighting when deciding your recording place. Make the lighting as bright as possible and ensure that the light is coming from behind the camera.

You should put some thought into what you’ll be wearing. You’ll want to look appropriate for the occasion. Make sure your outfit looks good on camera and doesn’t clash with your background. In general, keep in mind what your background will look like on-screen. You’ll want a background that isn’t overly distracting to viewers. Furthermore, ensure that there is a place just off-screen where you can have notes and anything else you may need readily at hand. Your recording location should be somewhere quiet and distraction-free.

You should test your camera and microphone to make sure they are working properly, and make sure you have a stable internet connection. But, even when you complete pre-checks of equipment, sometimes technology fails. Therefore, it’s helpful to know how to troubleshoot on the spot. Anticipate potential hiccups and have a plan for how to either fix issues that arise or continue with your presentation.

Vibrant Delivery

The tools for successful public speaking discussed in the rest of this textbook still apply to online speaking, but there are some key differences to consider before entering the virtual space. Online speaking, for example, will not have the same energy of a back-and-forth dialogue between speaker and live audience. If you’re recording without an audience, it might feel like you’re speaking into a void. You must use your power of imagination to keep in mind the audience who will eventually be watching your speech.

It’s important to utilize all your vocal tools, such as projection, enunciation, and vocal variety. Most important is having a high level of energy and enthusiasm reflected in your voice. If your voice communicates your passion for your speech topic, the audience will feel that and be more engaged. Use humor to keep your speech engaging and to raise your own energy level. Some experts recommend standing while giving an online speech because it helps raise your energy level and can better approximate the feeling of presenting in public.

If you’re presenting online to an audience, be sure to start the presentation on time. However, be aware that some participants may sign in late. Likewise, be cognizant about finishing your speech and answering any questions by the scheduled end time. If there are still questions you can direct the audience to reach out to you by your preferred means of communication. You may be able to provide the audience with a recording of the talk in case they want to go back and rewatch something.

Finally, consider ways you can enhance your performance by sharing images on the screen. Be sure you have that technology ready.

Other suggestions from experts include:

• Your anxiety does not go away just because you can’t see everyone in your “web audience.” Be aware of the likelihood of anxiety; it might not hit until you’re “on air.”
• During the question-and-answer period, some participants will question orally through the webcam set-up, while others will use the chat feature. It takes time to type in the chat. Be prepared for pauses.
• Remember the power of transitions. The speaker needs to tie the messages of their slides together.
• Verbal pauses can be helpful. Since one of the things that put audiences to sleep is the continual, non-stop flow of words, a pause can get attention.

As you begin delivering more public speeches you will likely find a preference for one or more of these delivery modes. If you are given a choice, it’s often best to lean into your strengths and to utilize the method you feel most comfortable with. However, the speech occasion may dictate your presentation style. Therefore, it’s important to practice and become comfortable with each mode. In an increasingly technological world online speaking in particular is likely going to be a required method of communication.

Media Attributions

• Delivery Modes and Delivery Document © Mechele Leon is licensed under a CC BY-NC-SA (Attribution NonCommercial ShareAlike) license

Public Speaking as Performance Copyright © 2023 by Mechele Leon is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

How and Why Our Mind Wanders?

• First Online: 08 October 2022

Cite this chapter

• Guillaume Pepin 3 &
• Alex Lafont 4  

609 Accesses

Daily, our minds wander a lot and we are often devolved from the task we should be focused on. Although mind-wandering (MW) can be beneficial, it is often detrimental for tasks requiring sustained attention. A better comprehension of how attention works is necessary to mitigate the negative effect of inattention and particularly to mind-wandering during a learning process. This chapter seeks to develop the role and functioning of attention, the way mind-wandering take over the place during daily activities, and the importance to consider this state for learning aspects.

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Pepin, G., Lafont, A. (2022). How and Why Our Mind Wanders?. In: Dario, N., Tateo, L. (eds) New Perspectives on Mind-Wandering. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-06955-0_2

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wandering in American English

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Meaning of wander in English

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wander verb ( MOVE AROUND )

• walk The baby has just learned to walk.
• stride She strode purposefully up to the desk and demanded to speak to the manager.
• march He marched right in to the office and demanded to see the governor.
• stroll We strolled along the beach.
• wander She wandered from room to room, not sure of what she was looking for.
• amble She ambled down the street, looking in shop windows.
• crawl There'd been a bad accident on the motorway and traffic was crawling.
• trundle Lorries trundle through the narrow lanes.
• creep He crept downstairs, hardly making any noise.
• trudge They trudged wearily through the snow.
• stroll We spent the afternoon strolling around Budapest.
• amble He ambled over to the window.
• Don't worry if you lose hold of the reins - the horse won't wander off.
• He wandered around, clearing up in a desultory way.
• We wandered along the shore , stepping over the flotsam that had washed up in the night .
• We wandered through the beautifully proportioned rooms of the Winter Palace.
• She was wandering around in a daze this morning .
• His eyes wandered over the posters adorning the walls .
• dumbwalking

You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:

wander verb ( SUBJECT )

• bury the lede idiom
• candy coating
• candy-coated
• circumlocution
• circumlocutory
• get on to/onto something
• gloss over something
• go off on a tangent idiom
• prevaricate
• tiptoe around something/someone
• unexpressed

Related word

• We had a very pleasant wander around the village .
• I took a wander through the supermarket aisles to see what they had.

wander | American Dictionary

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put a spoke in someone's wheel

to make it difficult for someone to achieve something they had planned to do

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Wander vs. Wonder: How To Use Each Word

• Wonder Vs. Wander

⚡ Quick summary

The verb wander (pronounced [ won -der ]) typically means “to roam” or “to meander.” The word wonder (pronounced [ wuhn -der ]) is typically used as a verb to mean “to think curiously,” “to be amazed,” or “to doubt.” As a noun, it’s used to mean “something strange and surprising,” “a miraculous deed or event,” or “the emotion excited by what is strange and surprising.”   

The words wander and wonder look very similar, but they have very different meanings and uses. 

In this article, we will define wander and wonder , explain how we use them differently, and provide example sentences that show how we typically use them in sentences. 

wonder  vs. wander

The word wonder (pronounced [ wuhn -der ]) is used as a verb and a noun. As a verb, it typically means “to think curiously,” “to be amazed,” or “to doubt.” 

For example:

• I wonder what will happen at the party this weekend. 
• They wondered at the amazing acrobatics of the circus performers.
• I wonder if Oscar can really speak Spanish like he claims. 

Wonder is also used as a noun to mean “something strange and surprising,” “a miraculous deed or event,” or “the emotion excited by what is strange and surprising.” 

• The collection was filled with wonders from around the world. 
• The magician was able to perform such wonders as turning dirt into gold. 
• We were filled with wonder as we watched the firework show. 

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The word wander (pronounced [ won -der ]) is typically used as a verb to mean “to move about without a set path, to roam,” “to follow a circuitous route, to meander,” and “to take a direction without conscious intent, as with thoughts,” as well as several other similar meanings. 

• She wandered through the woods for a while before she found a lake.
• The story started out good, but then it wandered off into a confusing mess. 
• He was so bored that his mind began to wander into thoughts of lunch.

It is possible to use the word wander as a noun, but this usage is rare. Instead, the noun sense of wandering is much more likely to be used. By contrast, both the noun and verb sense of wonder are commonly used.  

Examples of wander and wonder in a sentence

Let’s amble into some amazing sentences that show how we typically use wander and wonder .

• They got lost on the way to the pool and wandered into the sauna. 
• As a kid, I always wondered about how different machines worked.
• The president wandered off on a tangent about pizza before getting back to his speech. 
• The wizard’s tower was full of magical wonders, including a flying carpet. 
• We were full of wonder as we wandered through the science museum.

Don't wander off course when learning how to distinguish "coarse" from "course."

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• Diseases & Conditions
• Childhood apraxia of speech

Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) is a rare speech disorder. Children with this disorder have trouble controlling their lips, jaws and tongues when speaking.

In CAS , the brain has trouble planning for speech movement. The brain isn't able to properly direct the movements needed for speech. The speech muscles aren't weak, but the muscles don't form words the right way.

To speak correctly, the brain has to make plans that tell the speech muscles how to move the lips, jaw and tongue. The movements usually result in accurate sounds and words spoken at the proper speed and rhythm. CAS affects this process.

CAS is often treated with speech therapy. During speech therapy, a speech-language pathologist teaches the child to practice the correct way to say words, syllables and phrases.

Children with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) may have a variety of speech symptoms. Symptoms vary depending on a child's age and the severity of the speech problems.

CAS can result in:

• Babbling less or making fewer vocal sounds than is typical between the ages of 7 to 12 months.
• Speaking first words late, typically after ages 12 to 18 months old.
• Using a limited number of consonants and vowels.
• Often leaving out sounds when speaking.
• Using speech that is hard to understand.

These symptoms are usually noticed between ages 18 months and 2 years. Symptoms at this age may indicate suspected CAS . Suspected CAS means a child may potentially have this speech disorder. The child's speech development should be watched to determine if therapy should begin.

Children usually produce more speech between ages 2 and 4. Signs that may indicate CAS include:

• Vowel and consonant distortions.
• Pauses between syllables or words.
• Voicing errors, such as "pie" sounding like "bye."

Many children with CAS have trouble getting their jaws, lips and tongues to the correct positions to make a sound. They also may have a hard time moving smoothly to the next sound.

Many children with CAS also have language problems, such as reduced vocabulary or trouble with word order.

Some symptoms may be unique to children with CAS , which helps to make a diagnosis. However, some symptoms of CAS are also symptoms of other types of speech or language disorders. It's hard to diagnose CAS if a child has only symptoms that are found both in CAS and in other disorders.

Some characteristics, sometimes called markers, help distinguish CAS from other types of speech disorders. Those associated with CAS include:

• Trouble moving smoothly from one sound, syllable or word to another.
• Groping movements with the jaw, lips or tongue to try to make the correct movement for speech sounds.
• Vowel distortions, such as trying to use the correct vowel but saying it incorrectly.
• Using the wrong stress in a word, such as pronouncing "banana" as "BUH-nan-uh" instead of "buh-NAN-uh."
• Using equal emphasis on all syllables, such as saying "BUH-NAN-UH."
• Separation of syllables, such as putting a pause or gap between syllables.
• Inconsistency, such as making different errors when trying to say the same word a second time.
• Having a hard time imitating simple words.
• Voicing errors, such as saying "down" instead of "town."

Other speech disorders sometimes confused with CAS

Some speech sound disorders often get confused with CAS because some of the symptoms may overlap. These speech sound disorders include articulation disorders, phonological disorders and dysarthria.

A child with an articulation or phonological disorder has trouble learning how to make and use specific sounds. Unlike in CAS , the child doesn't have trouble planning or coordinating the movements to speak. Articulation and phonological disorders are more common than CAS .

Articulation or phonological speech errors may include:

• Substituting sounds. The child might say "fum" instead of "thumb," "wabbit" instead of "rabbit" or "tup" instead of "cup."
• Leaving out final consonants. A child with CAS might say "duh" instead of "duck" or "uh" instead of "up."
• Stopping the airstream. The child might say "tun" instead of "sun" or "doo" instead of "zoo."
• Simplifying sound combinations. The child might say "ting" instead of "string" or "fog" instead of "frog."

Dysarthria is a speech disorder that occurs because the speech muscles are weak. Making speech sounds is hard because the speech muscles can't move as far, as quickly or as strongly as they do during typical speech. People with dysarthria may also have a hoarse, soft or even strained voice. Or they may have slurred or slow speech.

Dysarthria is often easier to identify than CAS . However, when dysarthria is caused by damage to areas of the brain that affect coordination, it can be hard to determine the differences between CAS and dysarthria.

Childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) has a number of possible causes. But often a cause can't be determined. There usually isn't an observable problem in the brain of a child with CAS .

However, CAS can be the result of brain conditions or injury. These may include a stroke, infections or traumatic brain injury.

CAS also may occur as a symptom of a genetic disorder, syndrome or metabolic condition.

CAS is sometimes referred to as developmental apraxia. But children with CAS don't make typical developmental sound errors and they don't grow out of CAS . This is unlike children with delayed speech or developmental disorders who typically follow patterns in speech and sounds development but at a slower pace than usual.

Risk factors

Changes in the FOXP2 gene appear to increase the risk of childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) and other speech and language disorders. The FOXP2 gene may be involved in how certain nerves and pathways in the brain develop. Researchers continue to study how changes in the FOXP2 gene may affect motor coordination and speech and language processing in the brain. Other genes also may impact motor speech development.

Complications

Many children with childhood apraxia of speech (CAS) have other problems that affect their ability to communicate. These problems aren't due to CAS , but they may be seen along with CAS .

Symptoms or problems that are often present along with CAS include:

• Delayed language. This may include trouble understanding speech, reduced vocabulary, or not using correct grammar when putting words together in a phrase or sentence.
• Delays in intellectual and motor development and problems with reading, spelling and writing.
• Trouble with gross and fine motor movement skills or coordination.
• Trouble using communication in social interactions.

Diagnosing and treating childhood apraxia of speech at an early stage may reduce the risk of long-term persistence of the problem. If your child experiences speech problems, have a speech-language pathologist evaluate your child as soon as you notice any speech problems.

Childhood apraxia of speech care at Mayo Clinic

• Jankovic J, et al., eds. Dysarthria and apraxia of speech. In: Bradley and Daroff's Neurology in Clinical Practice. 8th ed. Elsevier; 2022. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed April 6, 2023.
• Carter J, et al. Etiology of speech and language disorders in children. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Accessed April 6, 2023.
• Childhood apraxia of speech. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. https://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/childhood-apraxia-of-speech/. Accessed April 6, 2023.
• Apraxia of speech. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. http://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/voice/pages/apraxia.aspx. Accessed April 6, 2023.
• Ng WL, et al. Predicting treatment of outcomes in rapid syllable transition treatment: An individual participant data meta-analysis. Journal of Speech, Language and Hearing Research. 2022; doi:10.1044/2022_JSLHR-21-00617.
• Speech sound disorders. American Speech-Language-Hearing Association. http://www.asha.org/public/speech/disorders/SpeechSoundDisorders/. Accessed April 6, 2023.
• Iuzzini-Seigel J. Prologue to the forum: Care of the whole child — Key considerations when working with children with childhood apraxia of speech. Language, Speech and Hearing Services in Schools. 2022; doi:10.1044/2022_LSHSS-22-00119.
• Namasivayam AK, et al. Speech sound disorders in children: An articulatory phonology perspective. 2020; doi:10.3389/fpsyg.2019.02998.
• Strand EA. Dynamic temporal and tactile cueing: A treatment strategy for childhood apraxia of speech. American Journal of Speech-Language Pathology. 2020; doi:10.1044/2019_AJSLP-19-0005.
• Ami TR. Allscripts EPSi. Mayo Clinic. March 13, 2023.
• Kliegman RM, et al. Language development and communication disorders. In: Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 21st ed. Elsevier; 2020. https://www.clinicalkey.com. Accessed April 6, 2023.
• Adam MP, et al., eds. FOXP2-related speech and language disorder. In: GeneReviews. University of Washington, Seattle; 1993-2023. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1116. Accessed April 6, 2023.
• How is CAS diagnosed? Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America. https://www.apraxia-kids.org/apraxia_kids_library/how-is-cas-diagnosed/. Accessed April 13, 2023.
• Chenausky KV, et al. The importance of deep speech phenotyping for neurodevelopmental and genetic disorders: A conceptual review. Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders. 2022; doi:10.1186/s11689-022-09443-z.
• Strand EA. Dynamic temporal and tactile cueing: A treatment strategy for childhood apraxia of speech. American Journal of Speech Language Pathology. 2020; doi:10.1044/2019_AJSLP-19-0005.
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adjective as in meandering

Strongest matches

Strong matches

adjective as in nomadic

Strongest match

adjective as in itinerant

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Example sentences.

Later, information emerged that this sea lion is known for its wanderings.

This is counter-intuitive because spontaneous fluctuations and mind-wandering can also lead to depressive rumination and anxiety.

Similar to playing and dreaming is the wandering of our minds.

When psychologists do that, they find that mind-wandering is staggeringly frequent.

Mind-wandering is often considered a harmless quirk, as in the cliché of the scatter-brained professor.

Mr. Bachner found it by wandering through the market and identified a craftsmen here who works in a tiny booth.

And, in a gratuitous show of homicidal prowess, Moses kills two assassins he meets while wandering in the desert of Sinai.

After wandering at haphazard some little way I met a peasant in a sleigh.

He showed signs of a restless, wandering soul, someone searching for meaning around him.

I spotted American students wandering around London last week dressed in Stars and Stripes shorts and bikini tops.

She observed his pale looks, and the distracted wandering of his eyes; but she would not notice either.

This mode of learning promotes attention and prevents mind-wandering.

He paled a little, and sucked his lip, his eyes wandering to the girl, who stood in stolid inapprehension of what was being said.

John and Judas became the good and evil Wandering Jews of mediæval folklore.

He was relieved to learn that his grandson Moses Mole was not wandering about the garden, after all.

Related Words

Words related to wandering are not direct synonyms, but are associated with the word wandering . Browse related words to learn more about word associations.

noun as in different from that expected

• irregularity

adjective as in having no goal

• any which way
• bits and pieces
• directionless
• fits and starts
• hit-or-miss
• indiscriminate
• purposeless
• thoughtless
• unpredictable

adjective, adverb as in off the path or right direction

• off the mark

adjective as in having disordered thoughts and delusions

• flipped-out
• hallucinatory
• lightheaded
• off one's head
• out of one's head
• out of one's skull
• unreasonable

noun as in deviation from normal, expected

• branching off
• branching out
• declination
• latest thing
• new wrinkle

Viewing 5 / 60 related words

On this page you'll find 93 synonyms, antonyms, and words related to wandering, such as: roving, winding, jaunting, roaming, strolling, and traveling.

From Roget's 21st Century Thesaurus, Third Edition Copyright © 2013 by the Philip Lief Group.

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“We should dare not trust a definition of human dignity from a government that cannot first define human anatomy.”

Hate speech laws are perhaps the easiest way for the U.S. government to censor, compel, and ultimately criminalize its citizens. 

Indeed, states have been compelling and restricting speech already using laws that themselves don’t even compel or restrict speech. Imagine the lengths of government oppression with laws that do compel or restrict speech. Thankfully the Supreme Court has ruled in line with the First Amendment, at the detriment of the Biden administration. But the fact that the Court has had to intervene at all should be concerning.

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Fundamentally, opposition to hate speech laws rests in the inevitable greasing of America’s present slippery slope of censorship. We should not trust the government’s ability to hold the line of regulation at hate speech. Additionally, opposition to hate speech laws in America is out of fear of how legislators will loosely define hate. 

Internationally speaking, hate speech laws are rooted in a defense of human dignity; some countries call these dignity laws. So, to establish hate speech laws would require the definition of human dignity. That’s where things get scary in respect to American government. 

We should dare not trust a definition of human dignity from a government that cannot first define human anatomy. Indeed, if the United States were to adopt dignity laws, human dignity would be defined by those who cannot distinguish between a man and a woman. In fact, many American legislators would consider my last two statements to be a violation of human dignity. Even if dignity laws were considered good in general, America is certainly not in an intellectual posture to handle such an arsenal of legal ambiguity.

America must maintain its liberty-based full-fledged protection of free speech–including hate speech.

Tyson Langhofer, senior counsel at Alliance Defending Freedom, describes free speech as, 

“The ability to say, write, or otherwise express ideas and beliefs without facing punishment or retaliation from the government. From verbal speech to artistic creation to words on clothing to flying a flag, free speech comes in many forms. Free speech not only entails a right to think or express what you want in the privacy of your own mind or home. To be able to live freely in accordance with your beliefs, you must be able to express those beliefs in public.” 

But can’t all of the free speech descriptions mentioned above coexist with hate speech laws? 

Don’t hate speech laws allow for the freedom of speech just without racial slurs and needless immoral hollering? 

In theory, yes. Hungary, for example, is known for allowing free as defined above but also has dignity laws that are widely supported among Hungarians, both liberal and conservative. But America is a different story, and we should not give nearly the trust to our government that other countries may have the luxury of giving.

The fear of a slippery slope is not fear-mongering, it’s historically proven

Sadly, even in the last decade, a historic precedent for government overreach and abuse has been on full display. What’s worse is that states have tried to compel or restrict speech using laws that don’t even compel or restrict speech. 

Literally, case in point: 303 Creative vs. Elenis . This landmark free speech case ruled that applying public accommodation laws (anti-discrimination laws) to compel or restrict speech violates the free speech clause of the First Amendment. It’s imperative to note that the Supreme Court did not strike down the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act (CADA), but rather ruled that states could not apply the laws to censor or force speech. See, the CADA, like many state anti-discrimination laws, does not include any language that says, for example, “a graphic designer must create all expressive designs requested of them, even if the design violates their conscience or religious convictions.” And yet, with Colorado and several other states, that’s exactly how the government was applying the law. 

Why is this important? The above example proves that slippery slope forces are already at work, even if the Supreme Court stopped them for the time being. But any government that forces or prohibits speech using laws that don’t even do that is not a government to be trusted with laws that do compel or restrict speech. Such laws would be a steroid shot in their already censor/compelling-happy agenda. 

The government shouldn’t be trusted to define hate

Political agendas should have no bearing on defining terms. However, only immense naivety would expect such legislative decency. While conservatism holds more objectivity in their definitions of hate, influential leftist entities such as the Southern Poverty Law Center have an entire map identifying organizations deemed “hate groups” in America. You don’t have to partner with the KKK to be called a hate group by the SPLC. Many groups on SPLCs hate list are essentially non-hateful conservative organizations that hold to biblical principles. The SPLC is a highly influential law group deep in the roots of many Democrat circles. 

Circling back to 303 Creative , which ultimately protected everyone including the LGBT community, President Biden called the Court’s ruling “disappointing” and said it “weakens long-standing laws that protect all Americans against discrimination in public accommodations — including people of color, people with disabilities, people of faith, and women.” Biden further noted his intent to reverse the impacts of this case. No, Mr. President, this ruling literally does the opposite of your concern. This ruling protects everyone you just mentioned from being forced to communicate in a way they disagree with.

Consider Justice Gorsuch’s opinion from 303 Creative:

“Consider what a contrary approach would mean. Under Colorado’s logic, the government may compel anyone who speaks for pay on a given topic to accept all commissions on that same topic — no matter the underlying message — if the topic somehow implicates a customer’s statutorily protected trait. Taken seriously, that principle would allow the government to force all manner of artists, speechwriters, and others whose services involve speech to speak what they do not believe on pain of penalty. The government could require ‘an unwilling Muslim movie director to make a film with a Zionist message,’ or ‘an atheist muralist to accept a commission celebrating Evangelical zeal,’ so long as they would make films or murals for other members of the public with different messages. Equally, the government could force a male website designer married to another man to design websites for an organization that advocates against same-sex marriage. Countless other creative professionals, too, could be forced to choose between remaining silent, producing speech that violates their beliefs, or speaking their minds and incurring sanctions for doing so. As our precedents recognize, the First Amendment tolerates none of that.”

Protecting everyone is not hateful. Forcing everyone, including the LGBT community, to communicate in a way that violates their conscience is hateful. Biden, and the larger liberal community, want the latter to be law. 

This article shouldn’t be seen as a pro-conservatism piece. This is a pro-free speech case. There are many conservatives that still want blasphemy laws and moral censorship to be law. To be fair, those are important conversations to have, given we are a country that celebrates culturally collective decisions about how society runs. But fundamentally, if speech is compromised, everything is compromised. While it is wishful that we have a morally sound stream of speech throughout the United States, we are simply not in a posture to expect, nor should we promote, any ideas that would allow less speech. 

More speech allows more ideas, dissent, and the living out of personal convictions. More speech also works against censoring agendas from our government. 

John Wesley Reid is a senior fellow with the Budapest Fellowship Program at the Hungary-based Mathias Corvinus Collegium School of Law. John is a U.S. Marine veteran, former firefighter, and spent six years in Washington D.C. in various media capacities with a focus on abortion, free speech, and the Supreme Court. 

Before moving to Budapest, Hungary, John’s tenure in D.C. included the roles of editor-in-chief for Liberty University’s Standing for Freedom Center, digital media director for Family Research Council, and social media news producer for CBN News. He’s an avid gun collector and an alumni of Biola University and Hillsdale College’s James Madison Fellowship.

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Blount Pride searching for 2024 venue after application to use Maryville College denied due to public reaction concerns

B lount Pride is working to bring a Pride celebration to the community in 2024 but said its application to use Maryville College's Clayton Center for the Arts was denied.

In 2023, the college hosted the Blount Pride Festival despite attracting national attention and controversy. The controversy began after the District Attorney General for the area sent a letter saying he would enforce a law that has now been ruled unconstitutional twice in Tennessee. That law effectively bans public drag performances.

The 2023 Blount Pride Festival was held in early September, attracting vendors and visitors to the college campus despite a gathering of protestors who held signs against the students, the festival and their identities. The protest was largely organized by far-right groups in East Tennessee.

Organizers brought out drag performers for a storytime event, bands for live music performances and organizations for a resource fair. Rep. Zooey Zephyr, a Democrat and transgender representative from Montana, also arrived to give a speech.

On Tuesday, Blount Pride posted on social media and said its application to use the same venue for the 2024 festival was denied. At first, organizers said they were asked to exclude drag from the festival. After asking Maryville College to be more clear about how it defined drag, organizers said the application was denied.

Organizers said they submitted an application to use Jack Greene Park for its 2024 festival instead, the location where its 2022 festival was held. The application is still pending approval from the City of Maryville, Blount Pride said.

Until a venue is secured, Blount Pride said it will not have a date to provide for the event.

The full statement from Blount Pride is available below.

"Hey y'all, Blount Pride here! First of all, let us say that we love our community and cannot express the amount of pride (no pun intended) we feel from celebrating with you over the years! Typically, around this time of the year, we would have already shared the details for our next event. And we know you all have been patiently waiting for an announcement for Blount Pride 2024.

In hopes of replicating the joy and success of our 2023 event at the Clayton Center for the Arts, we once again submitted an application to Maryville College for Blount Pride 2024. Our application was considered for several months after which we were asked to exclude drag from the festival.

We asked the college several questions, including asking them to define drag performance. They did not answer our questions, but instead, two weeks later, denied our application.

Following this application denial, we submitted an application for the same venue Blount Pride 2022 was held, Jack Greene Park. Our application is currently still pending approval from the city of Maryville.

We at Blount Pride enthusiastically uphold our mission to uplift and celebrate the LGBTQ+ community of Blount County! We will continue to host events, share local resources, and build connections. What we need from you is your continued vocal support both in-person and online for Blount Pride and the LGBTQ+ community. Let Blount County know that there's still pride in them/their hills!"

Maryville College also posted a statement about the Blount Pride festival, saying it was not able to reach a rental agreement for the event at the Clayton Center for the Arts. It said the 2023 event resulted in "legal wrangling, media attention, and protests." It also said the District Attorney's actions cost the college tens of thousands of dollars in legal expenses and other costs.

"The college experienced safety concerns prior to the event, with strangers wandering campus and through buildings, looking for college leaders. Numerous students left campus for the weekend (the first weekend on campus for most), concerned about planned protests and likely disruption, and in the preceding days, many campus offices and staff members were taken away from normal duties," the college said.

The college said moving forward, it needs to be conscious of its "responsibilities of educating current students and operating the college in a safe and orderly manner." It also said it has strong support for the LGBTQ+ community.

The statement said the lack of an agreement was not a stance on drag performers or a lack of support for Blount Pride, and more about the college's ability to deal with legal ramifications and public reaction.

"The college believes legal actions and protests would very likely occur again, especially in a major election year and with political polarization at an all-time high. We regret the consequences of this hyperpolitical environment we're all working to navigate, but this is our current reality," it said.