Like, whatever!
Does it bug you when people use the word ‘like’ in ways other than for comparisons?? teenagers perhaps? ye stereotypical amerian blondes?
A linguist from U of Canterbury via ‘American Speech‘ has gone to the trouble of analysing the usage of like and has found that it is not meaningless filler in sentences and actually follows some rules. The most common usages are:
1. To separate phrases (similar to using “i mean”): “He was at work all the time, like, I can’t imagine what he’d be doing!”
2. To keep conversation flowing (often an alternative to using “you know”)
3. As an equivalent to says: “He was like, lets go to the roller-disco”
4. As an equivalent to about: “It was like 15 stories high”
photo via :: ffffound.com
Never mind the teenagers – my six-year-old daughter has brought this puppy home. It’s nested, too… I’ve even caught my wife adopting the “LIKE” bug. Frightening little alien.
Reply to Dave ClaridgeAs the observant linguist noted, the-L-word is a separator and seems to act primarily as audible punctuation (commas and open-quotation marks in particular). It also seems to forewarn of a dramatic departure from linear thought, or to preface a reaction of someone she’s referring to in the sentence.
Although thoughts of speech-surgery have crossed my mind (or possible removal with a cheese-grater), I’ve decided not to make a huge deal out of it. Like dummies, formula and nappies, we’re ever hopeful that she’ll just grow out of it. The young burger-server I encountered yesterday leaves me pessimistic of this avenue, however…
Power on Dave! I’m feelin’ your pain brother!
Reply to reuben