Yes, you got it right. My focus today is on verbal crutches or what we call fillers in vocalics – the nonverbal cues in the voice. Thesaurus compares fillers to ‘comfy sweatpants’ that one easily slips into. While it is true that a well-placed verbal crutch which is a planned move and a conscious insertion in a conversation sounds stylish, it is equally true that an unconscious, repetitive usage of the same is jarring.
There have been instances when I felt like disconnecting the phone when the ‘you knows’ at the other end exasperated me beyond the realm of what I probably knew! I have often felt sorry for orators who fall several notches below the point of excellence because of their ‘ahs’ and ‘ums’ in spite of having enviable subject knowledge and language proficiency. The weirdest verbal crutch that I have ever come across is ‘yes means no.’ Even Thesaurus in its extensive list of crutch words doesn’t cover this! I was intrigued by the usage till someone pointed out that it could be the literal translation of a Kannada phrase – houdhalva/houdhaa alva. Too many ‘so sweets’ fail to be healthy even if one is not diabetic.
Surprisingly, public speaking experts and coaches come up with umpteen number of suggestions and remedies to quell nervousness. Equally intense focus hasn’t been on steps to overcome the menace of crutch words. Those who are aware of the negative impact of crutch words, have devised their own plans to overcome them. I remember reading in Readers Digest, the trick of a professor who attempted to overcome his fillers by requesting his students to raise their hand whenever he uttered one. Given the green signal, the students gleefully did it, and the professor conquered his weakness!
The key is self-knowledge, followed by readiness to change. Both self-knowledge and change are possible when we are open to constructive criticism as the professor was, in his own way. In addition, a few practical tips may help. The minute we grow conscious of our filler words, in the course of our conversation or presentation, when our boneless tongue is about to roll them out, we need to literally stop and replace a filler word with a pause.
Is literally a filler word? Yes, it is if you literally use it too many times…
Caveat…
The embarrassing situation made me to use a crutch word.☹️
The embarrassing situation made me use a crutch word. ????
