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A linguist has found three “cures” for the problem of stumbling speech (um’s, er’s, pauses, etc.):

1. Drinking (alcohol)
2. Use short sentences
3. Have someone threaten you with electric shock if you make a mistake.

Really, I’m not making this up. (the “cures” are in the last paragraph.)

It’s interesting that psychologists and linguists have such different views on why these verbal tics and stumbles happen. Psychologists can’t agree on whether it’s a power play (filling silent space so that no one interrupts you), or an invitation for someone else to speak. Linguists are a little less judgmental, seeing it as a result of the brain constantly switching back and forth between planning for speech and executing speech. (In other words, it’s a biological occurrence.)