Paul Cantrell
A coworker of mine years ago once said of James Earl Jones’s voice, “When he says ‘This…is CNN,’ you think to yourself, ‘Oh my GOD, it is, why did I never think about that??!?”
There’s something I want you to about James Earl Jones: he was a person who stuttered.
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Paul Cantrell
He said: “I was a stutterer. I couldn't talk. So my first year of school was my first mute year, and then those mute years continued until I got to high school.“ “It wasn’t that I stopped talking, it’s that I resolved that talking was too difficult.”
So what cured him? Wrong question: “I’m still a stutterer. But we all find a way to mask it.”
Interview video here: https://achievement.org/achiever/james-earl-jones/#interview
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Paul Cantrell
This is James Earl frigging Jones. •The• voice. Stuttered. His whole life. Poetry and acting helped him speak.
We judge people impulsively and •incredibly• harshly by how they speak: a stutter, an accent, a dialect, how they make a certain sound, how they sound.
In honor of James Earl Jones, let’s all just try to find that judgement within ourselves, grab it with both hands, and yank it out. I know I’ll try.
/end
Paul Cantrell
P.S. Some quick advice if you’re talking to a person who stutters:
Relax. Be patient. Don’t rush them. Don’t be anxious for them. Don’t “help” them by completing their word for them. (It’s NOT helpful!) If a stutter starts, let them find their own way through it. Chill. You’re good. It’s all good. Show them you’re listening and attentive, and you don’t mind them taking the time they need. Give them your patience, your attention, and your acceptance.
Paul Cantrell
(The above comes from my speech-language pathologist spouse, who I would like you to know kicks a whole lot of ass)
Paul Cantrell
@kzeta
Nah, she’s way too busy (and maybe too wise) to spend her time on social media like all of us fools here! But if she ever makes one, I’ll make sure you’re the first to know.
Kate Zimmerman
@inthehands I don't suppose your spouse has their own Mastodon account I could follow? (kidding / not kidding)
Kate Zimmerman
@inthehands I feel like this is great advice for speaking with most people, regardless of whether they stutter or not
Griz the Magic 8 Ball
Regarding James Earl Jones, and his road. RIP.
There are some great voices who might never be heard. Who were pointed at, and laughed at, and ridiculed. and thought not good enough for the one thing they love to do.
If that's you -- whatever your "voice" is -- keep going anyway. You might not get on The Big Stage. But you're already there. Tricky bit is convincing other folks you are.
Paul Cantrell
@mdione
That’s a whole job there! It’s tricky because the causes and mechanisms of stuttering are poorly understood, and different things help different people. Working with a professional is the way, if one has access.
Some resources:
Marcos Dione
@inthehands does she have advice for the stutterers?
Paul Cantrell
@dimsumthinking
It is indeed.
dimsumthinking
@inthehands isn’t this good advice for listening to anyone?
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