Abstract:

The present study is unique in its essence being one of the rare studies that analyze the significant relationships in its nature and contribute in theory of linguistics and speech patterns. To date, limited research has been reported on stuttering and bilingualism. Existing data reports conflicting results on stuttering characteristics across languages of bilingual children who stutter (CWS). Investigations to date include language acquisition, language proficiency, cultural influence, and linguistic as well as phonetic aspects in bilinguals CWS. Thus, assumptions on causal factors of stuttering are plenty, but research is missing to either support or refute those assumptions. This study is contributory as an attempt to find an underpinned mechanism of U-E CWS as their native and foreign language. In Pakistan, it has not done earlier, for the languages of Urdu as primary language and English as secondary language. The analysis of severity of stuttering sounds in both the languages is the first aim of the study, then the empirical analysis of stuttering in content and function words in both languages (Urdu and English) give high contribution in the field of Applied linguistics. Thirdly, the research is determining the relation between language proficiency and stuttering behavior in U-E languages. The relationship of language proficiency and stuttering behavior is the first attempt in Applied Linguistics, which gives extensive information to understand the need of language proficiency among CWS and their behaviors. The study also explores whether or not speech aphasia is neurogenic or psychogenic cause. The data for the presented research has been collected through questionnaire and purposive sampling technique was used to collect the data from respondents. Findings show that there is a significant difference among CWS in Urdu as L1 and English as L2, children stutter more in their secondary language rather than in primary language. After analyzing the collected data for the aetiology of stuttering, among the bilingual children the most common stuttering sounds found were /k/, /g/, /b/, /m/, /l/, /s/, /r/, , /d/, /$t/ /a/ and /o/. While the results also showed that stuttering in function words (Urdu) is less and stuttering in content words (Urdu) is much higher, but the word type of L2, the stuttering is same. Which means stuttering in English is higher without impact of word types. The data analysis showed if the language proficiency is increased by 1 percent, there is 2.11 % improvement in stuttering behavior is possible. Therefore, there is a positive relationship in language proficiency and stuttering behavior among CWS. Results showed that 40% of the subjects suffered from stuttering because of neurogenic causes while 60% of the subjects suffered from stuttering because of psychogenic causes.

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