5 ms·

I know girls that talk faster than they can think so every third word is "like". In this case it's not a pause but more of a tick. Sometimes I am in awe of the

I know girls that talk faster than they can think so every third word is "like". In this case it's not a pause but more of a tick. Sometimes I am in awe of the content density. They can talk for hours and say absolutely nothing.

kristianc 15y ago
"Like" is increasingly used to introduce a quotation, particularly in SoCal dialect. It's not necessarily the most elegant use of language, but it's not a pause or a tick.
- djloche 15y ago
  As someone who grew up in the suburbs of Southern California, It's been my experience that 'like' it's used to introduce a paraphrase that includes non-verbal communication and/or tones that introduce not-so-subtle comments regarding the paraphrase without directly commenting nor limiting yourself with a direct quotation. For example, I could say "kristianc was like, OMG it is NOT a pause or a tic, it is SoCal dialect!" in a sarcastic tone and roll my eyes. edit: This form of communication doesn't translate well into digital form - email, texting, etc. - unless both people are familiar with each other's body language and the dialect to visualize (at a conscious or subconscious level) the meaning.
  - kristianc 15y ago
    All communication is to some extent subject to those limitations. Wittgenstein was so like "language acquires meaning through context, bro" but only in his like, later period.
- munificent 15y ago
  kristianc was like, "It's not necessarily the most elegant use of language, but it's not a pause or a tick.", but that's not, like, the only use of "like" in American vernacular. It's also used to pause, or to, like, distance yourself from what you're saying.
  - lkozma 15y ago
    Nice going... For sentences like your last example, in the past few years I've been hearing "as in" with increasing frequency. I find it quite annoying and would be very curious to learn about its origins, as in how did it start.
- ldh 15y ago
  Minor interjection: the word you both want is "tic".
- syaz1 15y ago
  Funny relevance: Taylor Mali at Def Poetry Jam http://youtu.be/SCNIBV87wV4 http://youtu.be/SCNIBV87wV4
philwelch 15y ago
Believe it or not, you can talk for hours and say absolutely nothing without any disfluencies at all. I don't want to derail this thread into a political argument so I won't mention any specific examples, but I'm sure you can think of some yourself.
- ezl 15y ago
  +1. More please.
itmag 15y ago
I know girls that talk faster than they can think Heh, I'm the other way around.
cyanbane 15y ago
I am from the south so I think I probably pick up on the socal "like" more than people out west who hear it daily, and I distinctly remember listening to Marissa Mayer and attempting to count the instances in which she said it when I heard her speak about 7 or 8 years ago. The talk was very interesting and she didn't use it as a "thinking pause" however it was used very frequently.

kristianc 15y ago

"Like" is increasingly used to introduce a quotation, particularly in SoCal dialect. It's not necessarily the most elegant use of language, but it's not a pause or a tick.

djloche 15y ago
As someone who grew up in the suburbs of Southern California, It's been my experience that 'like' it's used to introduce a paraphrase that includes non-verbal communication and/or tones that introduce not-so-subtle comments regarding the paraphrase without directly commenting nor limiting yourself with a direct quotation. For example, I could say "kristianc was like, OMG it is NOT a pause or a tic, it is SoCal dialect!" in a sarcastic tone and roll my eyes. edit: This form of communication doesn't translate well into digital form - email, texting, etc. - unless both people are familiar with each other's body language and the dialect to visualize (at a conscious or subconscious level) the meaning.
- kristianc 15y ago
  All communication is to some extent subject to those limitations. Wittgenstein was so like "language acquires meaning through context, bro" but only in his like, later period.
munificent 15y ago
kristianc was like, "It's not necessarily the most elegant use of language, but it's not a pause or a tick.", but that's not, like, the only use of "like" in American vernacular. It's also used to pause, or to, like, distance yourself from what you're saying.
- lkozma 15y ago
  Nice going... For sentences like your last example, in the past few years I've been hearing "as in" with increasing frequency. I find it quite annoying and would be very curious to learn about its origins, as in how did it start.
ldh 15y ago
Minor interjection: the word you both want is "tic".
syaz1 15y ago
Funny relevance: Taylor Mali at Def Poetry Jam http://youtu.be/SCNIBV87wV4 http://youtu.be/SCNIBV87wV4

philwelch 15y ago

Believe it or not, you can talk for hours and say absolutely nothing without any disfluencies at all. I don't want to derail this thread into a political argument so I won't mention any specific examples, but I'm sure you can think of some yourself.

ezl 15y ago
+1. More please.

itmag 15y ago

I know girls that talk faster than they can think Heh, I'm the other way around.

cyanbane 15y ago

I am from the south so I think I probably pick up on the socal "like" more than people out west who hear it daily, and I distinctly remember listening to Marissa Mayer and attempting to count the instances in which she said it when I heard her speak about 7 or 8 years ago. The talk was very interesting and she didn't use it as a "thinking pause" however it was used very frequently.