One thing I noticed while watching the series that I've just remembered. What's with the slow speaking?

Example:

At the start of season 2, Cooper wakes up on the table being examined by Doc Hayward. Lucy and the Sheriff inform Cooper what happened since he was shot. "How long have I been out?" The way he says this appears extremely carefully pronounced.

Another example is actually referred to in the extras on the Gold Box where the Log Lady is sitting down at the diner with Major Briggs and is asked to not spit her gum out on the table by Norma. The Log Lady then says "I'll have a bear claw." Again, slowly and carefully pronounced.

I've noticed this a heap of times throughout the series, excluding the Red Room obviously, but thought it might be interesting if anyone else could point some out.

Also any ideas on what the slow speaking may mean would be appreciated. Thanks.

It's about mood. You couldn't have a Humphrey Bogart/Lauren Bacall type rapid fire conversation in Twin Peaks unless done tongue in cheek. Also, some characters talk slowly to make their point either because they're trying to be menacing (BOB), important (Ben), both at once (Leo) or just acting scared (Josie). Tellingly, in one of the most purely humorous scenes in the whole series, the rocks and bottles scene, Cooper does his best 40s screwball comedy imitation and talks much faster than he usually does.

Fast dialogue in such a slowly paced show wouldn't really work.

Incidentally, talking of slow pace and protracted scenes, I recently watched episode 8  featuring Andy's painfully long walk after stepping on a piece of boarding and it hitting him in the face. I thought this was a great example of the comedy of Lynch and Twin Peaks. I'm not saying it's very funny but the kind of niche humour that many will find just goes on too long. What do people think of this scene, I can't really make up my mind whether I like it or not.

An early, abandoned scene, when they were still finding their pacing...

And here's some footage from when Dell (from the bank) worked in France.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M7NaoN8Sx-Y

Fast dialogue in such a slowly paced show wouldn't really work.

Incidentally, talking of slow pace and protracted scenes, I recently watched episode 8  featuring Andy's painfully long walk after stepping on a piece of boarding and it hitting him in the face. I thought this was a great example of the comedy of Lynch and Twin Peaks. I'm not saying it's very funny but the kind of niche humour that many will find just goes on too long. What do people think of this scene, I can't really make up my mind whether I like it or not.

that scene is hysterical it makes me laugh. Alberts expression is great to
 

Some ideas- 

In the Gold Box doc, they were talking about casting people who were really cool and laid back, so they definitely had this sedate, mellow, dreamy manner of expression in mind.

Most cop and courtroom shows are dialog-oriented, whereas Twin Peaks operates so much on atmosphere.
Plus, in small, rural communities (I noticed this in Poulsbo, WA, where the Kiana is) people just talk slower, so this adds authenticity to the show.  Say much speaking little, is the general idea, and give the subtext behind the words themselves time to wash over the receiver.

It's like that in Norway too. City folk usually speak much faster than small town and country folk.