UMM...UMMM. | Forums

[Messaschnitzel]

I notice that more and more people with whom I speak with begins speaking with the sound "Ummmm".

They will continue to sprinkle these sounds throughout their sentences. whether it is in speaking to a store clerk, or listening to someone in a casual conversation, I will hear this happening with more frequency. "Umm, well I went to the store where I umm, I got some umm, potato chips." In the big picture of things, I suppose that it doesn't really matter one way or another. However, this sort of speech pattern does not instill any confidence in the person on my part when I hear people speak like this. They sound indecisive, as if their brain is trying to play catch-up with their mouth by interjecting their sentence with "umm" to buy some time. I may be getting old. The kids that I remember as a kid that spoke in this manner usually were either considered shy or dimwitted.

Again, does anyone notice this going on?

Umm, no, not umm, really.

[roybaty]

Ummmm, what?

[HotelBushranger]

I don't get that around my area, instead I get like, people who say like, like a lot because they like, subconsciously use it as a way to like, bridge pauses in sentences because they can't be arsed to like, stop for a second and think about what they're gonna like, say.

[roybaty]

LMAO I was weened from the "uuummmms" and "likes" and "ahhs" by a couple years of public/television speaking courses way back when.

[Stew278]

I remember sitting through a presentation given by one of my colleagues that was very difficult to listen to because he said umm about 130 times during the course of the 10min presentation. It completely messed trying to follow his speech because it kept breaking up the flow. It got almost painful to listen to after awhile.

Originally posted by HotelBushranger:
I don't get that around my area, instead I get like, people who say like, like a lot because they like, subconsciously use it as a way to like, bridge pauses in sentences because they can't be arsed to like, stop for a second and think about what they're gonna like, say.

I hear those all the time at my school. About the only thing more annoying than them is the guys that have to use the F word every third or fourth word. I don't know if they think it makes them seem like a badass or if they're just mentally deficient or what but it gets old really fast. I'm not one of those prudes that lectures people for swearing, but having to put up with these guys dropping 20 f-bombs per minute during casual conversation just gets ridiculous.

[I_KG100_Prien]

I get distracted when people start running the UMMMM train. It's irritating when someone is doing some kind of public speaking and they are "umming" constantly. It distracts folks.. Instead of hearing the actual meat and potatoes of whats being said, all they hear is the "ummm".

It's a great way to make yourself sound like an idjit.

I also get sick of hearing "Like, like, F-Bomb, F-bomb" as well. I have to put up with the "F-Bomb" schtick constantly from my co-workers. Makes me want to find the nearest blunt object to smack 'em with.

[han freak solo]

I know a manager that uses "ummmms" to prevent people from breaking into the conversation because he is never done until he leaves the room.

Bastid.

[han freak solo]

Originally posted by I_KG100_Prien:
I also get sick of hearing "Like, like, F-Bomb, F-bomb" as well. I have to put up with the "F-Bomb" schtick constantly from my co-workers. Makes me want to find the nearest blunt object to smack 'em with.

I feel the same way with people that constantly say, "you know what I'm saying?". No, I don't know what you're saying and apparently you aren't able to communicate to me and give up by saying, "you know what I'm saying?".

As far as F-bombs, the most I ever heard was when I had to work side by side with people from the Czech Republic and Egypt. They used it like breathing. I think it was because even though they spoke English very well, they used it to fill gaps when they couldn't think of the proper translation.

[Pirschjaeger]

Try this Solo; everytime someone says "You know what I'm say?" reply with "No, but I'm listening anyway".

I'd be surprised if they say it more than twice,...you know what I'm saying?

[joeap]

You guys, like take off eh?