Why Does Everyone Say ‘Like’ and ‘Um’ All The Time? - Valerie Fridland

Navigating Speech: The Ubiquity of "Like" and "Um"

In an insightful exploration of speech patterns, Professor Valerie Fridland, a sociolinguist, delves into the reasons behind the frequent use of fillers like "like" and "um" in everyday conversation. Her expertise sheds light on the linguistic and social dynamics that shape our spoken language, making this podcast both educational and engaging.

Core Concepts and Philosophies

Professor Fridland introduces the concept of sociolinguistics, which examines how our language varies not only across regions but also within social contexts and personal interactions. She emphasizes that the use of fillers such as "like" and "um" is largely influenced by the need for cognitive processing time during conversation. These fillers are not merely speech flaws but serve important communicative functions, helping speakers organize their thoughts and signaling to listeners that more complex information is being processed.

Practical Strategies and Advice

• Conscious Communication: Be aware of your use of fillers and understand that they play a role in managing the pace of conversations and thought processes.
• Listener Engagement: Use pauses effectively instead of fillers when possible to maintain listener engagement without detracting from the message.
• Speech Fluidity: Practice speaking more slowly to reduce reliance on fillers, allowing more time to organize thoughts and communicate clearly.

Supporting Evidence

Fridland references numerous studies that analyze speech patterns across different demographics, illustrating how fillers are universally present across languages and cultures, serving similar linguistic functions. This universality underscores their importance in human communication.

Personal Application

Fridland shares anecdotes from her teaching and public speaking experiences, discussing her own use of fillers. She highlights how being mindful of these elements in her speech helps improve clarity and effectiveness in her lectures and presentations.

Recommendations for Tools and Techniques

The podcast suggests practical tools such as speech analysis software and public speaking workshops that can help individuals gain awareness of their use of fillers and work on reducing them effectively.