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Along Life’s Way
The
Filler Word Affliction
By Lois E. Wilson
In the TV courtroom of Judge Judy, she often strongly admonishes
participants who use the words “basically” or “like” in their
testimony. She’ll say, “Don’t use those words; they are filler
words!” But the filler words are so ingrained in their
vocabularies, that within the next few statements, they use them again.
Some people have filler sounds such as: uh, er, or um. These filler
words and sounds are irritating to the listener. In 2007, this verse
expressed my thoughts on the subject:
NO PROBLEM, YOU GUYS! DUH!
Actually,
There are like words and phrases
That invade
The whole nation.
You know what I mean?
Basically,
Like, you know, common crazes
That pervade
Conversation.
You know what I mean?
But hopefully,
These disconcerting phases
May like fade
To cessation.
You know what I mean?
Yet irregardless,
Words with diehardness
Become clichéd.
You know what I mean?
You see? Hard to overcome,
They're like—totally awesome!
A reason fillers occur may be that they give us time to think before
responding further. They are an oasis where the speaker pauses to
refresh before proceeding. The pattern of their use is also found among
the well-educated. When people on TV use them, I sometimes begin to
count the number which distracts me from the message they are trying to
convey.
It is a kindness to politely point out to young, aspiring friends the
problem. Eliminating their fillers will be difficult; but confident and
fluent speech will be an asset for them as they move through their life
experiences.
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