Filler Words Make You Sound More Fluent

A Second Language Learner's Secret: Mastering Filler Words for Feigning Skillfulness 📚✨

As I explain my method for evaluating speaking performances, hands shoot up in the classroom. Looking at their confused faces, I can’t help but smile ear-to-ear. 😈

“Sensei..” a kid goes, “What you’re saying is that if we use words like えと and あの when we try to remember what we have to say, you can deduct a point from our performance but if we say their English counterparts like um or uhh, you won’t?”

“Yes, but within reason, of course.” I reply. “You can’t just say uhhhhhh every other word and think that counts as a good performance.”

Out of nowhere, they begin rehearsing their speeches and strategically inserting their ums.

I've recently added the teaching of filler words to my toolbox. By using this method, I feel my kids develop mindfulness, decrease reliance on their native language, and have a moment to think and recompose themselves before speaking. My goal is to help immerse them by discouraging the use of filler words in Japanese and promoting the use of their English equivalents. Hopefully, my students can enhance their fluency and increase their confidence in speaking English, knowing what comes out of their mouths doesn’t always have to be perfect.

Discourse markers, also called filler words, are frequently employed in spoken language to fill gaps, show uncertainty, or keep control of the conversation. In second language acquisition, filler words can show fluency by showing the speaker's ability to maintain a smooth flow of speech in a second language.

Studies have showed a connection between filler words and language processing in a second language. One study discovered that fluency played a crucial role in native-speaking raters' evaluations of comprehensibility in second language speech¹. This shows the importance of maintaining fluency, which involves using filler words appropriately for overall comprehension in a second language.

🗣️✨ How to Start Using Filler Words in Our Target Languages

1. Learn Common Fillers and Markers: Recognize and study the commonly utilized filler words and discourse markers in your target language. For example, in English, common fillers include "um," "uh," "you know," while common discourse markers include "however," "therefore," and "on the other hand."

2. Listen Actively: Take note of how native speakers interact in conversations, movies, TV shows, and other media. Take note of how and when they utilize these words.

   ⚠️ It is also important to consider who you want to sound like. For instance, I have met someone who turns into a valley girl when he interacts with Americans because of the filler words he’s learned.

3. Practice with Scripts: Practice using these words by writing them down or using scripted dialogues. Start by adding fillers and discourse markers to written sentences before practicing them in spoken language.

4. Real-time Conversation Practice: Have conversations with native speakers or language partners. Try to incorporate filler words and discourse markers naturally as you speak.

5. Feedback: Consult with native speakers or language teachers to get feedback on how you use the language. They have the ability to offer insights on your natural usage of these elements.

6. Adjust Based on Context: Understand that the appropriateness of certain fillers can depend on the formality of the setting. Be mindful of using casual fillers like "like" or "you know" in formal settings.

   🧢 Shohei Ohtani’s press conference had me cringing at the contrast of his formal language in Japanese with the English interpretation littered with casual filler words.

7. Continuous Learning: As you advance in your language skills, continue to refine your use of these linguistic tools by observing their usage in different contexts and adapting accordingly.

Back in high school, I had an English teacher would dock our grades with each hesitation or filler word in our presentations. I particularly loathed this because I stammer and use the word "like" liberally. I'm guilty of using filler words frequently in Japanese as well. And while you won’t see me speaking like I’m straight out of a TED Talk video anytime soon, which I’m totally okay with, I’m not bad when it comes to conversations that matter — especially with the ones that happen in the classroom. (With all the ums and pauses included.)

Do you use your second language’s filler words when speaking? Was it a conscious effort on your part, or did it just come naturally as you practiced the language?

1. Saito, K. (2017). Lexical Profiles of Comprehensible Second Language Speech: The Role of Appropriateness, Fluency, Variation, Sophistication, Abstractness and Sense Relations: VOCABULARY.