Thank you Tim for your feedback. To answer your question about the meaning of SSL!, The Story Behind The SOME STUTTER, LUH! (SSL!) Name ….. Dr. Paul De Decker Associate Professor of Linguistics at Memorial University, Creator and Production Manager of SSL!, and a significant Ally of the Newfoundland and Labrador Stuttering Association and PWS, suggested this name. He knew that we needed a name that appealed to Newfoundlanders and Labrador. Being a Professor of Newfoundland English and Newfoundland English dialects, he looked into the dictionary of Newfoundland English and thought the use of some and luh would make sense in this context. So some stutter luh is just a play on a number of Newfoundland English features. “Some” can refer to a group of people as in there’s “some” people. So it refers to the idea that there are some people who stutter and it also has the double meaning and has the other meaning in Newfoundland English as an intensifier. It intensifies, it modifies nouns. So stutter being the noun, some stutter means some great, some magnificent stutter. And then on the other side of things we have, luh and luh is just a tag that is put on the ends of phrases. Some people say it means love and could also mean look. So some stutter luh means, “hey, look at this magnificent stutter”. And Dr. De Decker figured this would make sense. Given that we’re in Newfoundland and Labrador, people are going to know what it means. Other examples of SOME intensifier’s; Some feed, luh!, Some boat, luh!, Some fish, luh!, Some catch, luh!, Some waves, luh!, Some wind, luh!, Some storm, luh!, Some rain, luh!, Some weather, luh!, Some good, luh!, Some nice, luh!, Some tasty, luh!, Some fish & brews, luh!, Some black puddin, luh!, Some home brew, luh!, Some place, luh!, Some price, luh!, Some pretty, luh!, Some handsome, luh! etc.

Regarding your question about whether I consider myself a covert stutterer in some situations and if I was avoiding while reading, to provide you with “just a glimpse” into my story, I still consider myself a stutterer. Like other covert stutterers, I was a specialist in many yesteryears of camaflouging and self sabotaging dysfunctional behaviours in order to hide my severe stutter. The ugly head and my desire to hide my stutter is always there ready to raise its ugly head. I introduce myself as a Professional PWS, who specialize in Covert stuttering, is my way reminding myself that I am a PWS who stutters, and of the temptation for me wanting to hide my stuttering. I still struggle with the ‘F’ word, fluency. As we know, stuttering is fluid. If you listen to my SSL! Podcasts, my stuttering is fluid when speaking and reading. Yet, during these fluid situations, I have accepted that It’s OK to stutter. I’ll give a shout out to the Speech and Stuttering Institute in Toronto, where I received treatment for my severe stuttering. As a lifeline, SSI was and continues to be a lifeline helping me manage my severe stuttering.

Thank you for sharing your video. I’m always in awe when listening to other PWS lived experiences, all of which are so empowering and inspirational.

Tim, there is som much to chat about the sadly neglected, mental health realm of stuttering. I invite you for a SSL! Guest Conversation. If interested, message me your email and I’ll email you recording details. Thank you again for your feedback; much appreciated. Greg