Editing Paralanguage (section)

===Gasps===
{{Redirect|Gasp}}
A '''gasp''' is a kind of paralinguistic [[Respiration (physiology)|respiration]] in the form of a sudden and sharp [[inhalation]] of air through the [[mouth]]. A gasp may indicate difficulty breathing and a panicked effort to draw air into the lungs. Gasps also occur from an [[emotion]] of [[surprise (emotion)|surprise]], [[shock (emotion)|shock]] or [[disgust]]. Like a sigh, a [[yawn]], or a [[moan]], a gasp is often an automatic and unintentional act.<ref name="Broncher">Rachel Broncher, ''A labor of love: a complete guide to childbirth for the mind, body, and soul'' (2004), p. 145.</ref> Gasping is closely related to sighing, and the inhalation characterizing a gasp induced by shock or surprise may be released as a sigh if the event causing the initial emotional reaction is determined to be less shocking or surprising than the observer first believed.<ref>Fernando Poyatos, ''Paralanguage: a linguistic and interdisciplinary approach to interactive speech and sounds'' (1993), page 330.</ref>

As a symptom of physiological problems, [[apneustic respirations]] (a.k.a. apneusis), are gasps related to the brain damage associated with a stroke or other trauma.