the spark
a universal metaphor for inspiration and instigation, "The Spark" was also the title of a prerevolutionary Russian socialist periodical (Iskra) as well as my paternal grandma's maiden name (Iskirka in Slovak). So the title seemed a natural.
BLOGGITY-BLOG
It actually occured to me that "actually" has replaced "basically" as the filler word of the decade. A filler word, basically — that is to say, actually — is a word that fills the conversational pauses so that people won't feel dumb actually speaking haltingly as they search for words. "Um" and "y'know" used to serve that function, and actually they still are used. They remain essential to the lexicon of the sports locker room interview.
However, among non jocks the filler word of choice — the new "basically" — is "actually". I think the reason for that is that people have been told repeatedly by grade school teachers that they sound stupid saying "y'know" and "uh". That's unfortunate.
Unlike "actually", "y'know" actually works syntactically… Y'know? And "um" (or its variants, "uh" or "duh") fill conversational gaps with neutral — and thus innocuous sound — and thus do no real harm.
"Actually", actually, usually becomes nonsensical when used as a filler... as in: "Actually, I'm from Chicago" or "Actually I'd Like fries with my hotdog", or "Actually my sofa is blue". "Uh" would work much better in these cases, and so it remains my filler word of choice.
Actually, let's hear it for "uh"!
There are 0 Comments for OUR GROWING LANGUAGE
Add A Comment