#630 - Valerie Fridland - Why Is Everyone Saying ‘Like’ and ‘Um’ All The Time?
May 20, 2023
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Valerie Fridland, a sociolinguist and Professor of Linguistics at the University of Nevada, delves into the intriguing world of language. She discusses the common use of filler words like 'like' and 'um,' their social implications, and how they affect communication dynamics. Valerie also explains how social media shapes language trends, revealing why Black Twitter sets the stage for new slang. Plus, she shares the fascinating history of the word ‘Hello’ and the complexities of language evolution, highlighting how social identity influences speech patterns.
Um and uh serve a beneficial function in communication by indicating engagement in cognitive processing and aiding comprehension.
Language change is a natural outcome of the interaction between individual and social factors, including cognitive, articulatory, and sociocultural influences.
The usage of 'like' in speech conveys attitude, subjectivity, and social identity, and analyzing its use can help individuals modify their speech patterns.
Deep dives
The function of um and uh as speech planners
The use of um and uh in speech serves as a signal that the speaker is engaged in cognitive processing and working to choose their words or structure their thoughts. These filled pauses give the listener an indication that the speaker is still talking and the delay is temporary. While some may interpret um and uh as hesitancy or uncertainty, they actually contribute to faster comprehension, better prediction of the speaker's message, and improved information processing for the listener. Though they may not be socially valued in certain contexts, um and uh serve a beneficial function in communication.
Language change and complexity
Languages constantly change due to cognitive and articulatory pressures that affect speakers. While certain languages may become less complex over time due to contacts with other languages or the need to be acquired by non-native speakers, complexity can also vary depending on the size and sociocultural factors of a language group. Social pressures, such as gender, age, and dialectal variation, interact with linguistic pressures to create dialects and changes in language over time. Overall, language change is a natural outcome of the dynamic interplay between individual and social factors.
The role and interpretation of filled pauses like um and uh
Filled pauses like um and uh are universal in language and serve as speech planners, indicating that the speaker is engaged in cognitive processing and speech formulation. The use of um and uh helps listeners predict the speaker's next word, supports better comprehension, and aids in information retention. While excessive use of um and uh may be perceived negatively in certain contexts, such as formal presentations, they have valuable cognitive and communicative functions. It is essential to recognize that their usage can vary depending on factors like age, gender, and sociocultural background.
Understanding the function and perception of the word like
The word 'like' is used in various ways in speech, including as a verb, noun, preposition, and discourse marker. While excessive use of 'like' may be criticized, it serves specific purposes, such as marking estimation, approximation, emphasis, or subjective perspective. Its usage is prevalent among younger speakers, and while it may be socially stigmatized in some contexts, it conveys attitude, subjectivity, and social identity. Increased awareness and analysis of how 'like' is used can help individuals better understand and modify their speech patterns if desired.
Vocal fry and its impact on women in broadcasting
Vocal fry is a phenomenon where women adopt a lower pitch voice, characterized by irregular vibrations of the vocal folds, to be taken more seriously and portray a more professional image in broadcasting settings. Studies show that women in broadcasting use vocal fry more than men in those settings and more than women in other contexts, suggesting they respond to societal pressure to have lower pitch voices. This issue has received attention and criticism, especially in radio shows and broadcasting, and has sparked debates about the double bind women face when trying to balance professionalism and attractiveness in the workplace.
The influence of social media and language change
Social media has a significant impact on language use by disseminating existing changes rather than creating new ones. It has allowed for the spread of language features and trends, especially through platforms like TikTok and Black Twitter. While social media does not invent language changes, it amplifies them and influences language adoption among younger speakers. However, social media's influence on language is dependent on the social engagement that it lacks compared to face-to-face conversations. It has also contributed to the rise of informal language use, which aligns with the broader cultural shift toward informality in society.
Valerie Fridland is a sociolinguist, Professor of Linguistics at the University of Nevada, a researcher and an author.
On average we say around 5,000 words every day. But how often have you assessed why you communicate the way you do, or where the words you're using came from? This is where the fascinating field of sociolinguistics comes in, exploring the history of our speech patterns and words' origins to help us develop new and better ways to communicate.
Expect to learn why languages evolved to be so complex, how to stop saying ‘like’ so much, how social media has impacted the way we speak, why you keep using “um” and “uh” all the time, why Black Twitter is at the forefront of all cool new lingo, the unexpected origin story of the word ‘Hello’, why I apparently have hard time pronouncing my R’s and much more...
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