A theory of linguistic behavior is presented. An integration with psychological theory, with justice to the complexities of linguistic structure, is attempted. Fundamentally, speech behavior is a series of movements in which certain uniformities can be found. Some of these uniformities are linguistic norms; others of a more psychological nature are related to conditions under which speech responses occur. The linguistic response-type is defined as any uniformity in speech behavior which exhibits a certain behavioral structure. This common behavioral structure is characterized in some detail. Employing the qualifications listed, one can separate linguistic from nonlinguistic behavior. The former includes all speech behavior as well as many nonvocal gestures. Psychological properties of linguistic response-types are to be studied in terms of their strength. Thus verbal behavior 'is seen as a series of movements patterned in overlapping units. The uniformities underlying these movements exist as behavioral habits, or response-types, the strengths of which are subject to continual change.' (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2017 APA, all rights reserved)