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SGR · 08-03-2022, 11:28 AM

Hard disagree that 'like' is better than 'uhhh' or 'ummm' as a pause interjection. 'Like' is much more jarring and noticeable to me.

I think using them stems from an insecurity that most or at least many people have that they'll lose their interlocutor's focus, attention, or interest when they're speaking and pause for some time as they think of what exactly they want to say next. Using 'like' and 'uhhm' is basically a verbal stopgap to allow them to think of what they want to say next without leaving that scary block of silence between words.

I believe though that it's been shown that in speaking, if you implement silent pauses, it actually makes you more persuasive and likely to keep your audience's attention and interest. Take a look at almost any Ted Talk to see that in action.

08-03-2022, 11:28 AM	#24624 (permalink)
SGR No Ice In My Bourbon Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: /dev/null Posts: 4,329	Hard disagree that 'like' is better than 'uhhh' or 'ummm' as a pause interjection. 'Like' is much more jarring and noticeable to me. I think using them stems from an insecurity that most or at least many people have that they'll lose their interlocutor's focus, attention, or interest when they're speaking and pause for some time as they think of what exactly they want to say next. Using 'like' and 'uhhm' is basically a verbal stopgap to allow them to think of what they want to say next without leaving that scary block of silence between words. I believe though that it's been shown that in speaking, if you implement silent pauses, it actually makes you more persuasive and likely to keep your audience's attention and interest. Take a look at almost any Ted Talk to see that in action.