The popular expressions “you know” and “I mean” have infected modern English speech. These expressions add no value for the listener and are really another way of saying “umm” or “uh”. Listen to a sports star or celebrity giving an interview sometime. There’s a good chance you’ll hear “you know” and “i mean” being over used. Nascar drivers are notorious for this.
Interviewer - “So Jim Bob, you guys had a tough time out there today.”
Jim Bob - “Yeah, you know, we had a lot of problems but managed to pull out a win.”
Interviewer - “Your pit crew did a fantastic job on the last two stops.”
Jim Bob - “Well those guys are just terrific, you know. I mean, they are real pros.”
Interviewer - “Blah blah blah.”
Jim Bob - “Blah blah, you know, blah blah, i mean, blah blah.”
These words are redundant and add no value to what is being said. The listener already knows the meaning if the speaker has a basic grasp of vocabulary and grammar. If one is unsure about the clarity of their words they can conclude the statement in question with, “do you know what i mean?”
Avoid using the popular expressions “you know” and “I mean” while speaking. It will make you sound more intelligent and your words will have greater impact on listeners. Do you know what I mean?
Filed Under Society - Apr 16, 2008COMMENTS
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