1936 G. K. Zipf (U.K. ed.) v. 195 One infers the nature of speech-patterns from the exemplifications of the patterns, i.e. the configurations of speech-elements.
1969 M. Pugh xxix. 207 His speech patterns were as elaborate as ever, but his voice was no longer so well modulated.
1974 14 80 The restricted and elaborate codes which characterize the speech patterns of the lower and middle classes respectively.