Filler words

[Scoobyqueen]

as title?

[Prodigal Son]

Yeah, this seems really common in ordinary conversation. I notice myself adding 就是 all the time without realizing it.

[Daan]

Ah yes. I try to keep myself from saying 那个, but that's quite difficult. It helps to remember how painful it is to listen to people who speak Dutch or English using loads of filler words.

An interesting one is 我說, which some speakers seem to add to almost every sentence they utter.

[gougou]

can be distracting to an audience

Do you think that is the case in Chinese?

[Scoobyqueen]

I think it is distracting in any language. When people are presenting it can sound like they dont know the topic very well. In some cases it may also indicate intellectual level.

tus. In Chinese I find just as distracting.

[xiaojiang216]

I find myself saying "就是...." quite a bit, usually when I am nervous and at a loss for words. I also use "然后" frequently and am trying to use it sparingly (similar to the "like" that young teens in the US tend to overuse). Are these words that I should try to cut down on? Could they get annoying?

[semantic nuance]

I find I use '我的意思是說...' or '我是說...' unconsciously and end with 你知道嗎? I guess these will be quite annoying to people. It's like 口頭禪 (theme song) I hardly get rid of.

[trien27]

I almost never ever use word fillers whether speaking English or Chinese.

Here are my methods:

1. I use words related to what was either the topic or subject of the previously mentioned conversations, etc...

Or

2. I would say something unrelated or totally changing the subject for a while to take the attention away from it, as I find the word or words to fill in. After I find it/them, then I'd return to this part of the conversation as before like nothing happened [like looking for word fillers or any subjects I try to avoid in conversations].

[tooironic]

I for one kind of like them. *shrugs* They add a certain "flavour" to the language. I particularly like them when they are used by lazy, mumbling people, as it's a perfect match to their personality. (Li Yuchun 李宇春 is a perfect example. Check out her interviews on YouTube. I just love the apathetic sound of her voice! A welcome change from those bubbly Chinese chicks who speak like high-pitched saleswomen.)

My $0.20.

[Shi Tong]

I know what you mean to a degree, but they're just to punctuate if you're trying hard to make a point. If you really want someone to reply, you might be adding "you know?" to the end, just because you really want them to listen and stuff.

In Taiwanese mandarin, I think it's probably funny because of the quantity and length of some of the ends of sentances like "wo zhi dao le la", why the "le la"? or how the girls say "hao ke ai oooooooooooooooo".. is it really necessary to have so long an O at the end?

I guess it's all about taste. IMO, there's no problem with it, just make sure you're understood!

[gougou]

I would say something unrelated or totally changing the subject for a while (...) then I'd return to this part of the conversation as before like nothing happened

Gee, some people thought filler words were annoying, you're using filler topics even...

[semantic nuance]

"wo zhi dao le la", why the "le la"?

Maybe the answerer is kind of impatient with the things said, so s/he replied 了啦!

how the girls say "hao ke ai oooooooooooooooo".. is it really necessary to have so long an O at the end?

Oooooooo they may act "hao ke ai oooooooooooooooo"!!

[tooironic]

In Taiwanese mandarin, I think it's probably funny because of the quantity and length of some of the ends of sentances like "wo zhi dao le la", why the "le la"? or how the girls say "hao ke ai oooooooooooooooo".. is it really necessary to have so long an O at the end?

Again, I kinda like that! It makes life interesting. I don't know why some people have to be so literal and philological about language sometimes. As for

In some cases it may also indicate intellectual level.

I think that's nonsense. "Filler" words are prevalent in every language, and in every class of person. Even high court judges use 'em! Of course, they usually don't say "like" - something more like "uhm" or "that is to say" or "in other words" or "kind of" (one of my old lecturers used to say that all the time!) perhaps - but they still use them. I think it's more of a psychological process - you don't want people to think you're not about to say something relevant, so you keep them listening with an audio cue.

[gougou]

I think it's more of a psychological process - you don't want people to think you're not about to say something relevant, so you keep them listening with an audio cue.

Agree. And I think in most of these cases, a 5-second silence would be much more awkward.

[skylee]

In Taiwanese mandarin, I think it's probably funny because of the quantity and length of some of the ends of sentances like "wo zhi dao le la", why the "le la"? or how the girls say "hao ke ai oooooooooooooooo".. is it really necessary to have so long an O at the end?

I wish I could speak like that. Sounds cute and soft. I tend to end my sentences quite abruptly. (I have met people who give others bad impression mostly because they usually stop talking even more abruptly than I. We describe the way they speak as 無尾音 and 倔.) I am now trying to add Oooooo like Koreans do when other people talk to me instead of just smiling and nodding.

[roddy]

I wish I could speak like that. Sounds cute and soft.

I find that style of speech very irritating very quickly喽。Although I'm sure it would be lovely if you did it

The filler stuff is something you might want to avoid if you're overdoing it, or if (like Scoobyqueen is, I think) doing public speaking - in that case it could appear that you're nervous or unprepared. But a certain amount is a natural part of native speech, and there's no reason for a learner not to include it - as long as you can get past the point of getting stuck on a 哪个哪个哪个 loop whenever you can't think of what to say.

[Shi Tong]

I dont mind the long ends to sentances which the Taiwanese sometimes add, and I also agree that it certainly has nothing to do with intelectual level, that's just an insult.

I know the meaning of le la, and I know why they add oooo at the end of their words. I just think that they're particularly long and obvious. It does sound soft and quite feminine (I dont think men would speak like that).

Something which they (Taiwanese girls) also say is "tau yin la" (annoying (la)), and this is quite hilarious, meaning that they think you're annoying, but in a cutesey kind of way!

haha.