While I've learned to just shake my head and sigh when reading or hearing certain things, that doesn't detract from the fact I do have a number of pet peeves when it comes to both written and spoken language.
An overuse of the word "like" in either form of communication has always sounded like nails against a chalkboard to me.
"And like that like test was like really like hard and like stuff, you like know?" Not exactly...
The new trend of people writing or uttering, "Just sayin'," makes me shake my head, and mumble, "Why on earth is there a need to say that? Yes, you just said what you said. Congratulations."
"Look man - if I were you, I'd be checking into where she's been going at 7 o'clock every night, and coming back after midnight smelling like some other guy's cologne, because something ain't right. I'm just sayin'..." Indeed he was...
That brings me to a recent article I read, which defends another language pet peeve of mine. The article is entitled, "It's Okay To End Your Sentences With 'But' Or 'So,' Right?" and written by Claire Fallon of The Huffington Post.
In defending the use of conjunctions at the end of sentences, Ms. Fallon states the following:
"...Ah, the awkward moment after you end a sentence, waiting for the person on the other end of the line to show any sign of responding. Without the ability to see the other person looking toward you for a rejoinder or nodding their head in agreement with what you're saying, it's difficult to know when you should be prepared to start speaking, or when you should offer the other person an opening to jump in. A lingering "soooo..." or even "but..." dangles the option of responding before the listener, but can be followed up on if said listener doesn't bite..."
She also writes this:
"...Of course, this tactic is best for situations when you wish to emphasize approachability and social connection, not when you hope to radiate confidence and dominance. Endeavor to end your sentences firmly during job interviews, for example. But why can't we end a sentence with "but" or "so" when we're trying to smooth the flow of a casual conversation? Whether it's starting a sentence with "so," tossing in some "you knows" or "likes," or even just trailing off with a "but, yeah...," I'm in no hurry to condemn any verbal tic that keeps conversations going."
Why can't we end a sentence with "but" or "so"? First off, because it's kind of annoying...
Mike Schnitzel: "Yeah, so I mean - there I was, in bed, tied to the posts, dressed in some kind of kilt, not knowing where in the heck I was, when the cops finally showed up."
Val Jay: "Sooooooo?"
Mike: "Soooo what? That's it. That's all I know."
Val: "Buuuuuuut?"
Mike: "But? What do you mean? You have me confused."
Val: "Sooooo?"
Mike: "Ugh. I think I better get going. I'm starting to get a headache."
Val: "Buuuuuu..."
Mike: :: hangs up ::
Also, how does ending a sentence with "but" or "so" help smooth the flow of a conversation? In my personal experience with people whom do this, it's done anything but help smooth our flow of conversation. When the person on the other end says, "but...," it leaves the impression that they're not satisfied with the current story, that they feel something is missing, and may not buy the current story if that's all there is to it. A person who goes the "soooo..." route comes across as kind of bored and pushy. In both instances, it places more pressure on the other person to either stick to the current story, but liven it up a little, or to think of a different topic to discuss. Here are examples of each situation:
Conjunction: But
Jeffrey Mazeltov: "So, there she and I were - making out like crazy in the car at the drive-inn theater, when she just stopped, and said, 'I have to go,' and she just up and left. Can you believe that s**t?"
Marcus Yamaka: "But..."
Jeffrey: "But what? That's it."
Marcus: "Come on, man. There has to be more..."
Jeffrey: "There's not. I haven't heard from her since."
Marcus: "How can I believe that? There has to be a 'but' in there somewhere."
Jeffrey: "Whatever, man"
Marcus: "Why are you lying to me? How can I ever trust you again?"
Jeffrey: "You're blowing this way out of proportion, dude."
Marcus: "I think we should probably stop hanging out. How can we hang out if I can't trust you. Goodbye!"
Jeffrey: "Uh, what just happened here?
Conjunction: So
Marsha Pissy: "The tractor backed into me, destroyed my car, and now I'll have to ride a tricycle to work until my car gets fixed up."
Mona Valley: "Soooo..."
Marsha: "So what?"
Mona: "Soooo..."
Marsha: "That's it. That's all there is to the story. The end."
Mona: "Soooo..."
Marsha: "What? Do you want to talk about something else? Pick a topic then."
Mona: "Soooo..."
Marsha: "Why do I always have to be the one to choose a topic to talk about? Why don't you take charge for once in your life."
Mona: "Soooo..."
Marsha: "You're really starting to annoy me."
Mona: "Soooo..."
Marsha: "So, on that note, I'm going to go. Don't call me again until you actually have something to talk about."
Mona: "Ssss..."
Marsha: :: hangs up ::
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/15/its-okay-to-end-your-sent_n_5325324.html
An overuse of the word "like" in either form of communication has always sounded like nails against a chalkboard to me.
"And like that like test was like really like hard and like stuff, you like know?" Not exactly...
The new trend of people writing or uttering, "Just sayin'," makes me shake my head, and mumble, "Why on earth is there a need to say that? Yes, you just said what you said. Congratulations."
"Look man - if I were you, I'd be checking into where she's been going at 7 o'clock every night, and coming back after midnight smelling like some other guy's cologne, because something ain't right. I'm just sayin'..." Indeed he was...
That brings me to a recent article I read, which defends another language pet peeve of mine. The article is entitled, "It's Okay To End Your Sentences With 'But' Or 'So,' Right?" and written by Claire Fallon of The Huffington Post.
In defending the use of conjunctions at the end of sentences, Ms. Fallon states the following:
"...Ah, the awkward moment after you end a sentence, waiting for the person on the other end of the line to show any sign of responding. Without the ability to see the other person looking toward you for a rejoinder or nodding their head in agreement with what you're saying, it's difficult to know when you should be prepared to start speaking, or when you should offer the other person an opening to jump in. A lingering "soooo..." or even "but..." dangles the option of responding before the listener, but can be followed up on if said listener doesn't bite..."
She also writes this:
"...Of course, this tactic is best for situations when you wish to emphasize approachability and social connection, not when you hope to radiate confidence and dominance. Endeavor to end your sentences firmly during job interviews, for example. But why can't we end a sentence with "but" or "so" when we're trying to smooth the flow of a casual conversation? Whether it's starting a sentence with "so," tossing in some "you knows" or "likes," or even just trailing off with a "but, yeah...," I'm in no hurry to condemn any verbal tic that keeps conversations going."
Why can't we end a sentence with "but" or "so"? First off, because it's kind of annoying...
Mike Schnitzel: "Yeah, so I mean - there I was, in bed, tied to the posts, dressed in some kind of kilt, not knowing where in the heck I was, when the cops finally showed up."
Val Jay: "Sooooooo?"
Mike: "Soooo what? That's it. That's all I know."
Val: "Buuuuuuut?"
Mike: "But? What do you mean? You have me confused."
Val: "Sooooo?"
Mike: "Ugh. I think I better get going. I'm starting to get a headache."
Val: "Buuuuuu..."
Mike: :: hangs up ::
Also, how does ending a sentence with "but" or "so" help smooth the flow of a conversation? In my personal experience with people whom do this, it's done anything but help smooth our flow of conversation. When the person on the other end says, "but...," it leaves the impression that they're not satisfied with the current story, that they feel something is missing, and may not buy the current story if that's all there is to it. A person who goes the "soooo..." route comes across as kind of bored and pushy. In both instances, it places more pressure on the other person to either stick to the current story, but liven it up a little, or to think of a different topic to discuss. Here are examples of each situation:
Conjunction: But
Jeffrey Mazeltov: "So, there she and I were - making out like crazy in the car at the drive-inn theater, when she just stopped, and said, 'I have to go,' and she just up and left. Can you believe that s**t?"
Marcus Yamaka: "But..."
Jeffrey: "But what? That's it."
Marcus: "Come on, man. There has to be more..."
Jeffrey: "There's not. I haven't heard from her since."
Marcus: "How can I believe that? There has to be a 'but' in there somewhere."
Jeffrey: "Whatever, man"
Marcus: "Why are you lying to me? How can I ever trust you again?"
Jeffrey: "You're blowing this way out of proportion, dude."
Marcus: "I think we should probably stop hanging out. How can we hang out if I can't trust you. Goodbye!"
Jeffrey: "Uh, what just happened here?
Conjunction: So
Marsha Pissy: "The tractor backed into me, destroyed my car, and now I'll have to ride a tricycle to work until my car gets fixed up."
Mona Valley: "Soooo..."
Marsha: "So what?"
Mona: "Soooo..."
Marsha: "That's it. That's all there is to the story. The end."
Mona: "Soooo..."
Marsha: "What? Do you want to talk about something else? Pick a topic then."
Mona: "Soooo..."
Marsha: "Why do I always have to be the one to choose a topic to talk about? Why don't you take charge for once in your life."
Mona: "Soooo..."
Marsha: "You're really starting to annoy me."
Mona: "Soooo..."
Marsha: "So, on that note, I'm going to go. Don't call me again until you actually have something to talk about."
Mona: "Ssss..."
Marsha: :: hangs up ::
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2014/05/15/its-okay-to-end-your-sent_n_5325324.html
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