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#630 - Valerie Fridland - Why Is Everyone Saying ‘Like’ and ‘Um’ All The Time?

Modern Wisdom

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The Role of Filler Words in Communication

This chapter explores the linguistic phenomenon of filler words like 'um' and 'uh,' examining their prevalence, origins, and roles in human speech across various languages. It discusses the psychological implications of these fillers as signals of cognitive processing, while also addressing their negative perceptions in formal contexts. Additionally, the chapter highlights the complexities of verbal fillers as conversation tools and their impact on communication dynamics, including gender differences in backchanneling behaviors.

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