I found an article discussing the different ways we
use the word “like.” Normal uses of “like,” as a verb, noun, quotative, or as a
word for comparison, are diverse as it is. But outside of those, the uses of “like”
are normally looked down upon as socially unacceptable, much in the same way
that uptalk is. Some people say that this is just another way to fill space, or
another word for “um.” However, using “like” is not always associated with pauses
in speech; its use is often intentional. Sometimes, we use it at the beginning
of a sentence to emphasize or clarify a previous statement (e.g. The cheesecake
was awesome! Like the raspberry sauce was so rich!). Other times, we use it in
the middle of the sentence to highlight the importance of a specific phrase
(e.g. I didn’t get to bed until like 3 in the morning). Here, we’re emphasizing
the fact that it was so late to be going to sleep.
The two sources I looked at agreed that the use of “like”
in this second way was for emphasizing the importance of something in the
middle of the sentence. However, I think I also use it as “around” or “about,” meaning
that it’s an estimate of something inexact (e.g. She cut the paper into like 5
pieces). Here, it isn’t about emphasizing the fact that it was five pieces, it’s
more about communicating that we’re not sure how many pieces she cut it into.
Anyway, this was just another meaning that I thought of that the articles didn’t
mention.
The use of “like” was far more diverse than I
realized. Are there other uses/meanings of “like” that you use or have heard? If
you have time, check out some of the examples in the first article below!
Do you think “like” has the stigma of being annoying or
incorrect in the same way that uptalk does?
This is interesting when you stop to think about it, because it is true! To answer your question, yes, I do think that "like" is starting to have, like, a stigma of being annoying (see what I did there)? Maybe not in the same way as uptalk yet, but I think it has potential to get there.
ReplyDeleteThat's interesting! I thought that if anything, "like" would lose its stigma over time, that it would become common enough that almost everyone would accept it as normal, unannoying speech. But like you said, it could go the other way and gain a bad stigma over time.
DeleteFor the most part, are new ways of speaking looked down upon because they are new? After awhile, do they lose this negative stigma as more people adapt to it? This makes sense to me, but I suppose there are several dialects that are widely used and still have a bad social connotation, even after time has passed.
I never thought of the multiple uses of "like" until you brought up those examples! I have found myself saying the word "like" almost automatically and not intentionally in mindless conversations to professional presentations. Although I do think the word "like" as somewhat of an annoying sigma, it's a difficult habit to change since the word is used as a form of an estimate. I have definitely found myself trying to produce less of the word "like" as a filler. I used to know someone who used the word consistently in every sentence and that's where I draw the line for sure.
ReplyDeleteYou bring up a good point, that there's a line for how much we can use these forms of "like" before they become annoying. I think it probably depends on who the listener is as to where that line is. However, once the use of "like" becomes ultra-noticeable, it tends to be more annoying to us.
DeleteGreat post, Alice. The word "like" is probably one of the most hyperactive words in English and has been for several decades in terms of change. Some of the uses you mention, plus some you don't, have been around for a while (last 60-70 years), while others are newer (quotative "like" for instance, probably 20-30 years) and each of those new uses was stigmatized by the purists--still is, in fact.
ReplyDeleteThose links you gave were both to good treatments Here's another excellent article by John McWhorter (job description: "public linguist/intellectual") on the history of the word:
https://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2016/11/the-evolution-of-like/507614/