Ataxaphasia

/əˌtæksəˈfeɪʒə/ noun

Definition

A speech disorder involving loss of the ability to arrange words in proper order, often due to neurological damage affecting coordination of speech muscles.

Etymology

From Greek ataxia (disorder, lack of order) and aphasia (loss of speech). The Greek root taxis means arrangement or order, while aphasia comes from a- (without) and phasis (speech).

Kelly Says

Ataxaphasia reveals how the brain treats language like an orchestra—your brain's speech director must coordinate timing and sequence, and when that conductor stops working properly, words tumble out in scrambled order even though you know what you want to say.

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