Circumstantial speech

Circumstantial speech, also referred to as circumstantiality, is the result of a so-called "non-linear thought pattern" and occurs when the focus of a conversation drifts, but often comes back to the point.''Problem-Based Psychiatry'' by Ben Green 2009 page 15 In circumstantiality, apparently unnecessary details and seemingly irrelevant remarks cause a delay in getting to the point.

If someone exhibits circumstantial speech during a conversation, they will often seem to "talk the long way around" to their point, which may be an attempt by the speaker to include pertinent details, that may contrast with the speech which is more direct, succinct, and to the point (the gist) even at the expense of more precise, accurate communication.
Circumstantial speech is more direct than tangential speech in which the speaker wanders and drifts and usually never returns to the original topic, and is far less severe than logorrhea.

Example

The following passage exemplifies ''circumstantial speech'', wherein the speaker includes excessive, often tangential detail before eventually addressing the original question:

Person One: ''Jesus! Do you even know how late it is?''

Person Two: ''Well—naturally, you're implying that I don't know what time it is. So now the question becomes: should I confirm your suspicion, or am I somehow compelled to respond by stating the obvious—that I might not know, at least not with precision? Perhaps I only have an approximate sense of the time. But then again, what does "approximate" fundamentally mean, at its core?—By the way, considering the word fundamental—imagine a terrorist organization that's vehemently opposed to fundamentalism. The irony is almost poetic. I think Gödel would have something to say about that—well, not Gödel himself, of course, but his insights into self-referential systems. Although, come to think of it, he might very well have had his own thoughts on the matter... In any case, I might know what time it is—or I might not. But since I'm under no obligation to disclose that information, I've chosen to withhold it. Not that you particularly need it, I'm sure.''

Despite the detours, the speech remains logically connected and thematically relevant, distinguishing it from more disorganized forms of thought such as '' loose associations'' or ''tangentiality''.

Treatment

Treatment often involves the use of behavioral modification and anticonvulsants, antidepressants and anxiolytics.{{cite book , last1=Svobada , first1=William , title=Childhood Epilepsy: Language, Learning And Behavioural Complications , date=April 5, 2004 , publisher=Cambridge University Press , isbn=0-521-82338-2 , pag
672
, url-access=registration , url=https://archive.org/details/childhoodepileps00svob_0/page/672

See also

*Aphasia
* Agnosia
*Auditory processing disorder
* Verbosity

References

Communication disorders
Obsessive–compulsive disorder
Thought disorders
Symptoms and signs of thought disorder