However, ↑ still continue to occur ≈ 2-3 times/min in natural speech & diff. versions of them can be found in almost every language (including sign language)

Are ↑ just a habit we can't break or is there more to them than meets the ear?

Historically these speech components had been lumped into the broader bucket of disfluencies / linguistic fillers which distract from useful speech

Can buy time for speech to catch up with thoughts / to fish out the right word for a situation

Lets listeners know an important word is on the way (linguists found that ppl are more likely to remember word if it comes after hesitation)

Ancient Greek & Latin texts warned against speaking w/ hesitation; modern schools tried to ban the offending terms; renowned linguist Noam Chomsky dismissed these expressions as errors irrelevant to language

'umms' 'errs' 'likes' = most frequent targets of communication regulation

*(前面一大堆例子) Filled pauses = a kind of hesitation phenomenon, these seemingly insignificant interruptions are actually quite meaningful in spoken communication

Tone of voice, relationship between speakers, expectations of where a conversation will go can imbue words that seem like filler w/ vital info

In speech (however) a word can take on additional layers of meaning

E.g., silent pause might be interpreted as sign for others to start speaking, filled pause can signal that you're not finished yet

While written word might have multiple definitions, we can usually determine its intended meaning through context

← Direct the flow of conversation; some studies suggest that conscientious speakers use more of these phrases to ensure everyone is being heard & understood

E.g., starting sentence w/ 'look' = indicate your attitude & help you gauge the listeners agreement; 'I mean' = signal that you're about to elaborate on sth; 'like' = many functions e.g., establishing loose connection between thoughts / introducing sb. else‘s words / actions

E.g., 'like', 'well', 'you know', ignoring literal meaning to convey sth about the sentence in which they appear

← Give ppl a real time view into your thought process & help listeners follow, interpret, predict what you're trying to say

Another part of speech that take on new meaning during dialogue