I don’t talk to people often, but when I do, this weird thing keeps happening: they start mouthing the words I’m saying. At first, I thought it was something weird with this one person but it keeps happening to me with different people.
I’ve asked other people if this happens to them and they all say no. This has been going on for over 10 years.
My gran used to do that with everyone. She wasn’t hard of hearing, but I rather suspect she had a comprehension disorder of some kind. I read something about this in the New York Times recently but don’t know where. Although, if lots of people are doing it with you, perhaps you’re mumbling and don’t realise it and they’re trying to interpret what you’re saying. But I doubt it – I think it is more common than we recognize that folks have difficulty with comprehension and do the word repeating thing.
Cheers,
Mungo
Yeah, I’m betting it’s a comprehension thing. Maybe not because of how you’re saying it, but because of what you’re saying.
You: “I mostly just love to hike. I like to hike from Mexico to Canada every year.”
Them: <mouths the words “From Mexico to Canada”.>
You: “I live in a cabin with no electricity or running water, and have a bucket for humanure.”
Them: <mouths the words “bucket for humanure”>
I just got a job and the person who interviewed me did that. It’s very strange. I guess I work for him now. He’s still doing it. The thing is, how do they know what you’re saying so fast that they can mouth along?
The thing that I do is I read people’s lips when they talk. I don’t know if that bothers them, but I hope not. I guess I started doing that a long time ago. I had hearing problems as a child. And now it’s hard to understand people if I don’t read their lips.
You chaps have obviously not seen the movie “A Couch In New York”. What you are experiencing is a method councellors use to let you know they are listening, and to urge you on to divulging more information.
Le Loup.
If they think it makes you talk more, they’re wrong. It makes me not want to talk to the person at all.
Yeah, it makes me want to stop talking, as well. I don’t think they do it on purpose.