Cringy, isn't it? Well, that's how most people talk these days, ranging from adults to even young kids. We don't write like that, so then why do we talk like that?
Words including "like", "um", "you know" are considered as "filler words", or a sound that signals a pause (rather than a conclusion) to the other people involved (according to dictionary.com). Essentially, when you need a moment to pause or think, you use a filler word (or words) to replace an actual pause.
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| via flavorwire.com |
One of the earliest accounts of using filler words is from a 1928 New Yorker cartoon, which uses the word "like". A more modern account of using the word "like" would be the manner of speech from Shaggy, a main character on Scooby-Doo (i.e. - "This tunnel sure makes loud echos, like, tell me that's you…").
It's not only in English speech - there are also filler words for different languages. In Tagalog, the most common ones are "ah", "eh", "ay", and "am". In French, "euh" is the most common filler word, but others include "quoi", "bah", "tu vois", and "eh bien".
For the longest time, popular culture depicted only unintelligent people and surfer boys to use filler words, however, times have changed and now, almost everyone uses it. Children can learn this speech from television shows, books, music, and movies. Also, important figures have been also famous for using filler words. For example, Ronald Reagan was known for beginning his answers to questions with "Well…".
It's saddening to know that people do not always speak in proper English. Slang words were a problem a couple of years ago, and with the addition of filler words - what's next for English speech?
For the longest time, popular culture depicted only unintelligent people and surfer boys to use filler words, however, times have changed and now, almost everyone uses it. Children can learn this speech from television shows, books, music, and movies. Also, important figures have been also famous for using filler words. For example, Ronald Reagan was known for beginning his answers to questions with "Well…".
It's saddening to know that people do not always speak in proper English. Slang words were a problem a couple of years ago, and with the addition of filler words - what's next for English speech?
