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More often, however, it's a matter of not knowing what to say (ie: failing to be reciprocal in conversation), not being able to break into the conversation, not being able to start a conversation, or in the worst case being simply unable to speak (mutism caused by stress)
It's similar for me.
Sometimes I actually feel like my mouth is sealed shut, physically. Generally when my brain goes into "nonverbal mode." If I try to speak at times like that, it's generally just a few incoherantly strung together words.
Most of the time, however, I just don't have anything to say. My thoughts take too long to formulate themselves into comprehensible dialogue, so even if I do have an opinion often those conversing have changed subjects by the time I can offer my input.
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Once in college, half of one class didn't think I could talk at all for half the semester.
That happened to me in one of my math classes in high school. I guess I had spoken less than I realized. Our teacher put us into groups, and when I got into my group with two other girls, I started talking about the project almost immediately (we need to get started). One girl just stared at me and exclaimed "You can talk?!"