Impromptu speech is characterized by the simultaneous processes of ideation (the elaboration and structuring of reasoning by the speaker as he improvises) and expression in the speaker. Other elements accompany this characteristic: division of speech flow into short segments, acoustic relief in the form of word stress following a pause, and both accidental and deliberate redundancy. It is the presence of all of these characteristics that helps the listener understand the speaker's meaning. Because these elements affect both perception and comprehension, the entire processing of language is facilitated. (MSE)