The Vocal Fries A History of Like
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Jul 14, 2025 Megan C. Reynolds, Dwell editor and author of Like: A History of the World’s Most Hated (and Misunderstood) Word, joins to trace 'like' from 1600s records to today. She explains quotative uses, hedging and approximation. They tackle gendered criticism, prescriptive policing of speech, and why the backlash says more about power than intelligence.
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Quotative "Like" Conveys Emotion
- The quotative use of "like" ("I was like…") reveals speakers' emotions and stance in a small slice of speech.
- Megan Reynolds says this function adds nuance and shows subtle emotional state without lengthy explanation.
"Like" Dates Back Centuries
- Records show uses of "like" date back to 1600s UK court records, not just 1980s Valley Girls.
- Megan Reynolds emphasizes the word's deep history to counter stereotypes about its origin.
Hedging With "Like" Signals Care
- Using "like" as a hedge buys speakers time to gather thoughts and signals more is coming.
- Megan Reynolds frames this hesitation as care and conversational management, not lack of intelligence.
