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For as long as we’ve had language, some people have tried to control it. And some of the most frequent targets of this communication regulation are the ums, ers, and likes that pepper our conversations.
自从我们有了语言，有些人就试图控制它。而这个交流规则中最常见的一些目标是ums、ers和类似的东西，它们会刺激我们的对话。 Ancient Greek and Latin texts warned against speaking with hesitation, modern schools have tried to ban the offending terms, and renowned linguist Noam Chomsky dismissed these expressions as “errors” irrelevant to language.古希腊语和拉丁语的文本警告人们不要犹豫不决，现代学校试图禁止这些冒犯性的词语，著名语言学家诺姆·乔姆斯基（Noam Chomsky）将这些表达斥为与语言无关的“错误”。 Historically, these speech components had been lumped into the broader bucket of “disfluencies”— linguistic fillers which distract from useful speech. However, none of this controversy has made these so-called disfluencies less common. They continue to occur roughly 2 to 3 times per minute in natural speech.历史上，这些言语成分被归为更广泛的“不流利”一类，即分散有用言语注意力的语言填充词。然而，这些争议并没有使这些所谓的不流畅现象变得不那么普遍。在自然语言中，它们大约每分钟出现2到3次。 And different versions of them can be found in almost every language, including sign language. So are ums and uhs just a habit we can’t break? Or is there more to them than meets the ear?几乎每种语言都有不同的版本，包括手语。那么这只是我们不能打破的习惯吗？或者他们有更多的东西听不见？
To answer this question, it helps to compare these speech components to other words we use in everyday life. While a written word might have multiple definitions, we can usually determine its intended meaning through context. In speech however, a word can take on additional layers of meaning. Tone of voice, the relationship between speakers, and expectations of where a conversation will go can imbue even words that seem like filler with vital information.为了回答这个问题，将这些语音成分与我们日常生活中使用的其他词汇进行比较是很有帮助的。虽然一个书面词可能有多种定义，但我们通常可以通过上下文来确定它的意思。然而，在言语中，一个词可以具有额外的意义层次。语调、说话人之间的关系以及对谈话走向的预期，甚至可以让那些看起来像是填充了重要信息的词语充满活力。 This is where “um” and “uh” come in. Or “eh” and “ehm,” “tutoa” and “öö,” “eto” and “ano.” Linguists call these filled pauses, which are a kind of hesitation phenomenon. And these seemingly insignificant interruptions are actually quite meaningful in spoken communication.这就是“嗯”和“嗯”的由来。或者“eh”和“ehm”，“tutoa”和“öö”，“eto”和“ano”，语言学家称之为“填充停顿”，这是一种犹豫现象。而这些看似无关紧要的打断，其实在口语交际中是相当有意义的。
For example, while a silent pause might be interpreted as a sign for others to start speaking, a filled pause can signal that you’re not finished yet. Hesitation phenomena can buy time for your speech to catch up with your thoughts, or to fish out the right word for a situation.例如，虽然沉默的停顿可能被理解为其他人开始说话的信号，但充满停顿的停顿可能表示你还没有说完。犹豫不决现象可以为你的演讲争取时间，使之跟上你的想法，或者为一种情况找到合适的词。 And they don’t just benefit the speaker— a filled pause lets your listeners know an important word is on the way. Linguists have even found that people are more likely to remember a word if it comes after a hesitation.它们不仅仅对演讲者有利——一个充满停顿的停顿可以让你的听众知道一个重要的词即将出现。语言学家甚至发现，如果一个单词在犹豫之后出现，人们更容易记住它。 Hesitation phenomena aren’t the only parts of speech that take on new meaning during dialogue. Words and phrases such as “like,” “well” or “you know” function as discourse markers, ignoring their literal meaning to convey something about the sentence in which they appear. Discourse markers direct the flow of conversation, and some studies suggest that conscientious speakers use more of these phrases to ensure everyone is being heard and understood.犹豫现象并不是对话中唯一具有新意义的词类。像“like”、“well”或“you know”这样的词和短语起着话语标记语的作用，忽略了它们的字面意义来表达它们出现的句子的某些东西。话语标记语引导着谈话的流程，一些研究表明，有责任心的说话者使用更多的这些短语，来确保每个人都被听到和理解。 For example, starting a sentence with “Look...” can indicate your attitude and help you gauge the listener’s agreement. “I mean” can signal that you’re about to elaborate on something. And the dreaded “like” can perform many functions, such as establishing a loose connection between thoughts, or introducing someone else's words or actions. These markers give people a real-time view into your thought process and help listeners follow, interpret, and predict what you’re trying to say.例如，以“Look…”开头的句子可以表明你的态度，帮助你衡量听众的同意程度。“我是说”可以暗示你要详细说明一些事情。而令人恐惧的“like”可以发挥很多功能，比如在思想之间建立松散的联系，或者介绍别人的言行。这些标记让人们实时了解你的思维过程，帮助听众理解和预测你想说的话。 Discourse markers and hesitation phenomena aren’t just useful for understanding language— they help us learn it too. In 2011, a study showed toddlers common and uncommon objects alongside a recording referring to one of the items. When a later recording asked them to identify the uncommon object, toddlers performed better if that instruction contained a filled pause. This may mean that filled pauses cue toddlers to expect novel words, and help them connect new words to new objects.话语标记语和犹豫现象不仅有助于理解语言，而且有助于我们学习语言。在2011年，一项研究显示，幼儿常见和不常见的物品旁边有一个涉及其中一个项目的录音。当后来的一段录音要求他们识别这个不寻常的物体时，如果这个指令包含一个完整的停顿，幼儿的表现会更好。这可能意味着，填充停顿提示幼儿期待新单词，并帮助他们连接新单词和新对象。 For adolescents and adults learning a second language, filled pauses smooth out awkward early conversations. And once they’re more confident, the second-language learner can signal their newfound fluency by using the appropriate hesitation phenomenon. Because, contrary to popular belief, the use of filled pauses doesn't decrease with mastery of a language.对于学习第二语言的青少年和成年人来说，填空式的停顿可以缓和早期尴尬的对话。一旦他们更加自信，第二语言学习者就可以通过适当的犹豫现象来表达他们新发现的流利性。因为，与流行的观点相反，填空停顿的使用并不会随着语言的掌握而减少。 Just because hesitation phenomena and discourse markers are a natural part of communication doesn’t mean they’re always appropriate. Outside of writing dialogue, they serve no purpose in most formal writing. And in some contexts, the stigma these social cues carry can work against the speaker. But in most conversations, these seemingly senseless sounds can convey a world of meaning.仅仅因为犹豫现象和话语标记语是交际的自然组成部分，并不意味着它们总是合适的。除了写作对话之外，它们在大多数正式写作中毫无用处。在某些情况下，这些社交暗示所带来的耻辱感可能会对说话者不利。但在大多数对话中，这些看似毫无意义的声音可以传达一个意义的世界。
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