Filler Words: The Definition and Their Communicative Functions

Samar Ghanmi

doi:doi:10.11648/j.allc.20220702.11

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Filler Words: The Definition and Their Communicative Functions

Samar Ghanmi

Published in Arabic Language, Literature & Culture (Volume 7, Issue 2)

Received: 5 July 2022 Accepted: 29 July 2022 Published: 11 October 2022

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Abstract

Filler words (I mean, you know, um, uh…) represent linguistic units, that take the form of Relatively short forms, concise expressions used by the speaker during verbal communication for the purpose of segmenting the speech especially in the case of emotional charge and the suspension of the verbal act. The purpose behind using speech fillers is expressive and communicative. The speaker, thus, ensures long-windedness, the continuation of communication along with proper delivery of the semiotic context of the linguistic message. Studies have neglected to address and treat these units. Through this article, we have tried to expose the related definitions given to “speech fillers” and how they were treated in classical and modern criticism, using a descriptive and analytical approach, and we explained that these expressions are not tautology in speech, but rather have several functions in oral discourse based on spontaneity. We conclude that these expressions are used at times of emotion to segment speech and ensure the chronological sequence of thoughts. We have also shown that speech fillers connect discourse parts and grant its proper sequence, homogeneity and expressiveness, it also contributes to changing the interpretation of the text and directing the meaning to other intention, such as punctuation marks in written discourse. We may say that speech fillers are considered a part of the linguistic activity that should not be neglected for language has to be analyzed through all its expressive manifestations.

Published in	Arabic Language, Literature & Culture (Volume 7, Issue 2)
DOI	10.11648/j.allc.20220702.11
Page(s)	6-10
Creative Commons	This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.
Copyright	Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Filler Word, Emotional, Pragmatics, Cognitive, Connectors

References

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[2]	Al-Jawadi (M), (2013-2014), Semantic and Pragmatic coherence in Discourse, Research for a Master’s Degree in Arabic Language, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in Tunis.
[3]	Al-Masadi (Abdul Salam), Stylistics and Style, Arab Book Edition, 3rd Edition.
[4]	Al-Sakaki (Abu Yaqoub Yusuf bin Abi Bakr Muhammad bin Ali), (1983), Miftah Al-Ouloum, Beirut, Lebanon, Dar Al-Kutub Al-Ilmiyya, Volume 1.
[5]	Al-Sharif (Mohamed Salah Al-Din), (2012), The Grammaticzl and Rhetorical Department, A Theoretical Approach to the Teaching of Tongues, Annals of the Tunisian University, No 57, p p 53-88.
[6]	Al-Suyuti (Abdul Rahman Jalal Al-Din), (1986), Al-Mizhar in the Sciences of Language and its Kinds, Beirut, Modern Library Publications, two parts.
[7]	Al-zanned (Al-Azhar), (2005), Transmission of the Voice, Transmission of Significance: The plural saying as a model, Annals of the Tunisian University, No. 49, p p 33-73.
[8]	Giraud (Pierre), Semantics, (1986), Beirut – Paris, Oweidat Publications.
[9]	Grira (Tawtik), (2005), The Phenomenon of refining in Arabic «A cognitive vision», Annals of the Tunisian University, No 49, p p 137-181.
[10]	Lutfi (Mustafa), (1981), The Arabic Language in its social status: A study in Modern Linguistics, Institute of Arab Development.
[11]	Matin (Bronwyn) and Ringham (Felizetas), (2008), A Dictionary of Semiotic Terms, translated by Abed Khazindar, revised by Muhammad Bariri, the National Center for Translation, 1st edition.
[12]	Murtad (Abdul-Jalil), (2002), Linguistic Structural Analysis of oral discourse, Algeria, Journal of Arts and Foreign Languages, No 1, p p 6-47.
[13]	Samoud (Hammadi), (2012), Arabic rhetoric, the rhetoric of faces or the rhetoric of speech, Annals of the Tunisian University, No 57, p p 17-34.
[14]	Sharudou, P and Mengino, D, (2008), ]A Dictionary of Discourse Analysis, Tunisia, Sinatra Edition / National Center for Translation.
[15]	The Arabic Alphabetical Dictionary, (1977), Annals of the Tunisian University, No. 14.

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APA Style

Samar Ghanmi. (2022). Filler Words: The Definition and Their Communicative Functions. Arabic Language, Literature & Culture, 7(2), 6-10. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.allc.20220702.11

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ACS Style

Samar Ghanmi. Filler Words: The Definition and Their Communicative Functions. Arab. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2022, 7(2), 6-10. doi: 10.11648/j.allc.20220702.11

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AMA Style

Samar Ghanmi. Filler Words: The Definition and Their Communicative Functions. Arab Lang Lit Cult. 2022;7(2):6-10. doi: 10.11648/j.allc.20220702.11

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@article{10.11648/j.allc.20220702.11,
  author = {Samar Ghanmi},
  title = {Filler Words: The Definition and Their Communicative Functions},
  journal = {Arabic Language, Literature & Culture},
  volume = {7},
  number = {2},
  pages = {6-10},
  doi = {10.11648/j.allc.20220702.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.allc.20220702.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.allc.20220702.11},
  abstract = {Filler words (I mean, you know, um, uh…) represent linguistic units, that take the form of Relatively short forms, concise expressions used by the speaker during verbal communication for the purpose of segmenting the speech especially in the case of emotional charge and the suspension of the verbal act. The purpose behind using speech fillers is expressive and communicative. The speaker, thus, ensures long-windedness, the continuation of communication along with proper delivery of the semiotic context of the linguistic message. Studies have neglected to address and treat these units. Through this article, we have tried to expose the related definitions given to “speech fillers” and how they were treated in classical and modern criticism, using a descriptive and analytical approach, and we explained that these expressions are not tautology in speech, but rather have several functions in oral discourse based on spontaneity. We conclude that these expressions are used at times of emotion to segment speech and ensure the chronological sequence of thoughts. We have also shown that speech fillers connect discourse parts and grant its proper sequence, homogeneity and expressiveness, it also contributes to changing the interpretation of the text and directing the meaning to other intention, such as punctuation marks in written discourse. We may say that speech fillers are considered a part of the linguistic activity that should not be neglected for language has to be analyzed through all its expressive manifestations.},
 year = {2022}
}

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TY  - JOUR
T1  - Filler Words: The Definition and Their Communicative Functions
AU  - Samar Ghanmi
Y1  - 2022/10/11
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.allc.20220702.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.allc.20220702.11
T2  - Arabic Language, Literature & Culture
JF  - Arabic Language, Literature & Culture
JO  - Arabic Language, Literature & Culture
SP  - 6
EP  - 10
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2639-9695
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.allc.20220702.11
AB  - Filler words (I mean, you know, um, uh…) represent linguistic units, that take the form of Relatively short forms, concise expressions used by the speaker during verbal communication for the purpose of segmenting the speech especially in the case of emotional charge and the suspension of the verbal act. The purpose behind using speech fillers is expressive and communicative. The speaker, thus, ensures long-windedness, the continuation of communication along with proper delivery of the semiotic context of the linguistic message. Studies have neglected to address and treat these units. Through this article, we have tried to expose the related definitions given to “speech fillers” and how they were treated in classical and modern criticism, using a descriptive and analytical approach, and we explained that these expressions are not tautology in speech, but rather have several functions in oral discourse based on spontaneity. We conclude that these expressions are used at times of emotion to segment speech and ensure the chronological sequence of thoughts. We have also shown that speech fillers connect discourse parts and grant its proper sequence, homogeneity and expressiveness, it also contributes to changing the interpretation of the text and directing the meaning to other intention, such as punctuation marks in written discourse. We may say that speech fillers are considered a part of the linguistic activity that should not be neglected for language has to be analyzed through all its expressive manifestations.
VL  - 7
IS  - 2
ER  -

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Author Information

Samar Ghanmi

Department of Arabic Language, Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences of Tunis, University of Tunis, Tunis, Tunisia

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Plain Text BibTeX RIS

APA Style

Samar Ghanmi. (2022). Filler Words: The Definition and Their Communicative Functions. Arabic Language, Literature & Culture, 7(2), 6-10. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.allc.20220702.11

Copy | Download

ACS Style

Samar Ghanmi. Filler Words: The Definition and Their Communicative Functions. Arab. Lang. Lit. Cult. 2022, 7(2), 6-10. doi: 10.11648/j.allc.20220702.11

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AMA Style

Samar Ghanmi. Filler Words: The Definition and Their Communicative Functions. Arab Lang Lit Cult. 2022;7(2):6-10. doi: 10.11648/j.allc.20220702.11

Copy | Download

@article{10.11648/j.allc.20220702.11,
  author = {Samar Ghanmi},
  title = {Filler Words: The Definition and Their Communicative Functions},
  journal = {Arabic Language, Literature & Culture},
  volume = {7},
  number = {2},
  pages = {6-10},
  doi = {10.11648/j.allc.20220702.11},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.allc.20220702.11},
  eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.allc.20220702.11},
  abstract = {Filler words (I mean, you know, um, uh…) represent linguistic units, that take the form of Relatively short forms, concise expressions used by the speaker during verbal communication for the purpose of segmenting the speech especially in the case of emotional charge and the suspension of the verbal act. The purpose behind using speech fillers is expressive and communicative. The speaker, thus, ensures long-windedness, the continuation of communication along with proper delivery of the semiotic context of the linguistic message. Studies have neglected to address and treat these units. Through this article, we have tried to expose the related definitions given to “speech fillers” and how they were treated in classical and modern criticism, using a descriptive and analytical approach, and we explained that these expressions are not tautology in speech, but rather have several functions in oral discourse based on spontaneity. We conclude that these expressions are used at times of emotion to segment speech and ensure the chronological sequence of thoughts. We have also shown that speech fillers connect discourse parts and grant its proper sequence, homogeneity and expressiveness, it also contributes to changing the interpretation of the text and directing the meaning to other intention, such as punctuation marks in written discourse. We may say that speech fillers are considered a part of the linguistic activity that should not be neglected for language has to be analyzed through all its expressive manifestations.},
 year = {2022}
}

Copy | Download

TY  - JOUR
T1  - Filler Words: The Definition and Their Communicative Functions
AU  - Samar Ghanmi
Y1  - 2022/10/11
PY  - 2022
N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.allc.20220702.11
DO  - 10.11648/j.allc.20220702.11
T2  - Arabic Language, Literature & Culture
JF  - Arabic Language, Literature & Culture
JO  - Arabic Language, Literature & Culture
SP  - 6
EP  - 10
PB  - Science Publishing Group
SN  - 2639-9695
UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.allc.20220702.11
AB  - Filler words (I mean, you know, um, uh…) represent linguistic units, that take the form of Relatively short forms, concise expressions used by the speaker during verbal communication for the purpose of segmenting the speech especially in the case of emotional charge and the suspension of the verbal act. The purpose behind using speech fillers is expressive and communicative. The speaker, thus, ensures long-windedness, the continuation of communication along with proper delivery of the semiotic context of the linguistic message. Studies have neglected to address and treat these units. Through this article, we have tried to expose the related definitions given to “speech fillers” and how they were treated in classical and modern criticism, using a descriptive and analytical approach, and we explained that these expressions are not tautology in speech, but rather have several functions in oral discourse based on spontaneity. We conclude that these expressions are used at times of emotion to segment speech and ensure the chronological sequence of thoughts. We have also shown that speech fillers connect discourse parts and grant its proper sequence, homogeneity and expressiveness, it also contributes to changing the interpretation of the text and directing the meaning to other intention, such as punctuation marks in written discourse. We may say that speech fillers are considered a part of the linguistic activity that should not be neglected for language has to be analyzed through all its expressive manifestations.
VL  - 7
IS  - 2
ER  -

Copy | Download