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Say someone was stabbed and he bleeds but he remains conscious. Axiomatically if he were to speak he would speak with extreme difficulty.

What do you call the hiccup-like noise/sound he makes while he is attempting to talk or at pauses.

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    I would call it "gasping", or perhaps look up "gasping" in a thesaurus for further ideas.
    – Hot Licks
    May 15, 2016 at 13:35
  • @HotLicks: Please add gasp as an answer.
    – Drew
    May 15, 2016 at 14:32
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    Depends where he was stabbed, of course. Stabbed in the buttock might be agonising but wouldn't necessarily cause a hiccupping noise when speaking. Stabbed in the throat would cause gurgling. But I agree with Drew that Hot Licks should claim the answer with gasping as the best option. May 15, 2016 at 15:04

4 Answers 4

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In general, one would expect someone who was, say, stabbed in the chest to "gasp" as they attempted to breathe or speak. "Gasping" would be characterized by spasmodic inhalation, accompanied by choking sounds.

Less pronounced gasping would occur if the victim were stabbed elsewhere, or were in severe pain for some other reason. And at some point, as the pain moderates slightly, the gasping steadies a bit and becomes something more akin to "panting".

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In the context you describe a person would probably stutter:

  • sputter, say inarticulately.

  • speak in a series of incoherent bursts as a result of indignation or some other strong emotion.

(ODO)

From An Atlantean tale:

  • He coughed, then looked up and gasped for air. Even so, in his last words, he stuttered, “I...I wonder what remains for me out there...” His eyes closed as a peaceful smile came across his face. A great solemn silence fell upon...
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  • So what's the answer? Stutter or sputter, or both?
    – Mari-Lou A
    May 16, 2016 at 7:44
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The hiccup is a spasm of the diaphragm used to pull air from, and push air to the lungs. The resulting effect of trying to speak with a damaged chest or diaphragm might be termed, speaking spasmodically.

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Try stutter

to speak with involuntary disruption or blocking of speech .

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    Stutter is something entirely different.
    – Hot Licks
    May 15, 2016 at 13:59
  • @HotLicks Different from the op's question or different than what I defined?
    – vickyace
    May 15, 2016 at 14:06
  • A stutter is a neuromuscular disorder characterized by the rapid starting and stopping of sounds, particularly the initial sounds of words. A person with a stutter ststststutters.
    – Hot Licks
    May 15, 2016 at 14:41
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    You may stutter also if you don't suffer from neuromuscular disorders, because of fear for instance, or other strong emotions.
    – user66974
    May 15, 2016 at 15:10
  • @Josh61 - The stutter is a relative of neuromuscular tremor. In some people it will be present without provocation, while in others it's triggered by stress. In any event, a stutter is a specific speech pattern, unlike what one would expect in the OP's scenario.
    – Hot Licks
    May 16, 2016 at 1:09

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