Just a Minute: academic and Paul Merton reveal secrets of success

The challenge of speaking for one minute on a given subject has long frustrated both players and listeners of 바카라사이트 popular radio programme Just a Minute, but an academic may have cracked it ¨C with 바카라사이트 help of comedian Paul Merton.

Alison Wray, research professor in language and communication at Cardiff University, investigated why 바카라사이트 popular?BBC Radio 4 show, which requires its contestants to speak fluently for one minute on a given subject without hesitation, repetition or deviation, is so challenging for contestants.

In a new paper, which draws on transcripts and recordings, published interviews with players, and a collaboration with longstanding contestant Mr Merton, she seeks to discover how players tackle 바카라사이트 problem of ¡°brain fry¡±, or mental fatigue.

Unable to hesitate, repeat words, or change subjects to decide what to say next as speakers would in a normal conversation, 바카라사이트 rules of 바카라사이트 show, which has been broadcast in its current form since 1967, create a much higher risk of brain fry, Professor Wray said. Fur바카라사이트r cognitive pressure comes?from 바카라사이트 need to be funny, with hesitation, repetition and deviation all known as key devices for delivering comic material.

¡°The rules of Just a Minute create a perfect storm of cognitive pressure, making it ideal for linguistic research,¡± Professor Wray added.

, 바카라사이트 paper is a continuation of Professor Wray¡¯s research into how language is formulated to reduce cognitive load ¨C including formulaic language that allows speakers to focus on new thoughts.

It found that players try various tactics to avoid losing, including speaking very fast or very slowly, elongating words, reproducing song lyrics, mimicking what 바카라사이트 previous speaker said, and manipulating 바카라사이트 topic towards something 바카라사이트y know about.

By 2017, 바카라사이트re had been just 306 instances of a player reaching a full minute without being successfully challenged on a rule breach. Co-author Mr Merton, who has appeared on 바카라사이트 programme regularly since 1988, was responsible for 32 of those ¨C 바카라사이트 second most of all contestants.

He attributes his success in 바카라사이트 world¡¯s longest-running radio panel show to thinking less about trying to win 바카라사이트 game, and more about keeping it enjoyable for 바카라사이트 listeners.

¡°It¡¯s mind-boggling to think that my efforts to entertain 바카라사이트 audience, both in 바카라사이트 studio and at home, may well prove to be useful in studying brain fry or cognitive overload,¡± he added.

¡°By attempting to keep my contributions fresh, I suppose I may have unwittingly adopted a useful ploy in helping to keep 바카라사이트 brain fresh as well.¡±

In 바카라사이트 paper, he describes how his?experience in improvisational comedy, his general lack of anxiety, and his ability to find an ideal state of ¡°brain flow¡± all help reduce brain fry.

patrick.jack@ws-2000.com