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Per the linked article in OP: >They recorded bits of informal conversation from 31 dialects across 5 continents and suggested that the word ‘huh’ (and its vari

Per the linked article in OP: >They recorded bits of informal conversation from 31 dialects across 5 continents and suggested that the word ‘huh’ (and its variants) is possibly a universal repair initiator that exists in all languages, performs the same function and sounds roughly the same across languages. It is apparent that they were aware that it isn't pronounced the same in all languages (because of course it isn't), but that it's a possible universal repair initiator that sounds similar. The title of the article is linkbait, I agree, but the article explains better.

stingraycharles 6y ago
But isn’t this the case for more than just “huh” ? For example, expressing pain (eg “ouch”) exists in all languages as well, although they all have to be translated as well.
- pcl 6y ago
  Yes, and the article addresses this. It says that pain sounds are closer to grunts on the word-grunt spectrum, and they argue that “huh” is more word-like ok that spectrum.
- rat9988 6y ago
  >expressing pain (eg “ouch”) exists in all languages as well I'm pretty sure it's not.