I Feel Like…

By: Pedro

The other day I was talking to a friend and I noticed that she kept saying the phrase, “I feel like…” before each thought. I have been hearing this phrase constantly for the longest time. It is a very common vocal filler, and a precursor to many thoughts. What is up with vocal fillers? Why do people need to have vocal ticks? “Like, I think that like it’s sort of like…” I must admit that I submit to using common vocal fillers such as like, and umm, but what is the deal with them?

Just to clarify, a vocal filler is a word or phrase that is commonly used by a person while taking time to think.  Common vocal fillers are like, umm, and my favorite, “Certainly”.

In my opinion, vocal fillers are useless and annoying.  Why must someone say a common phrase or words when thinking or processing their thoughts for speech?  What is wrong with silently pausing for thought? I’d like to look at the reasons that people use vocal fillers, and see what can be done about them.

The main reason that someone might use fillers is because they are nervous.  Silences during speech might seem like forever to one who is speaking, so nerves cause them to fill their speech with words so that the silence is less foreboding.  Soon, through repetition, this becomes habit and the vocal filler is ingrained in speech.

To be honest, I can’t think of any other reason to use a vocal filler.  For me it boils down to nerves and paranoia.  Just think about it.  Someone who is speaking, using vocal fillers, is afraid that the person or persons listening will not like the silences of conversation. Or maybe the speaker gets paranoid when he or she hears pauses or silence, not knowing what to say next but wanting something to come.  Or maybe the speaker likes a certain word, and just likes to use it, because it eases their nerves or because they get in the habit.

In any case, I think I have a solution.  Calm Down! Stop caring about how you say things so much. Sometimes you will say the wrong things.  Who cares! It’s gonna happen.  And stop worrying about silence.  Some of the most effective speeches employ the use of silence! If you want to stop using a vocal tick just ask those around you to raise their hand or better yet punch you every time you use umm, or like, or similar things.

I just felt like ranting, even though there’s not much to say about it. So whatever…