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Related Experiment Videos

Using uh and um in spontaneous speaking.

Herbert H Clark1, Jean E Fox Tree

  • 1Department of Psychology, Building 420, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305-2130, USA. herb@psych.stanford.edu

Cognition
|June 14, 2002
PubMed
Summary
This summary is machine-generated.

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Speakers use "uh" and "um" to signal planned speech delays, indicating whether the pause will be minor or major. These vocalizations are conventional words, strategically planned and produced like any other.

Area of Science:

  • Linguistics
  • Psycholinguistics
  • Cognitive Science

Background:

  • Disfluencies like "uh" and "um" are common in spontaneous speech.
  • Previous research has explored their phonetic and functional aspects.
  • The precise cognitive mechanisms and communicative intentions behind their use remain areas of active investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To propose that "uh" and "um" function as conventional linguistic signals for planned speech delays.
  • To investigate the role of these vocalizations in managing conversational turn-taking and information flow.
  • To demonstrate that speakers consciously plan and produce "uh" and "um" as integral parts of their speech.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of large corpora of spontaneous spoken English.

Related Experiment Videos

  • Examination of the phonetic and structural properties of "uh" and "um" occurrences.
  • Correlational analysis linking the use of "uh" and "um" to specific communicative contexts and speaker intentions.

    • Main Results:

    • Evidence suggests speakers use "uh" for minor delays and "um" for major delays.
    • Speakers monitor speech plans to identify delays requiring vocalization.
    • The production of "uh" and "um" involves formulation of placement, choice of item, and potential phonetic modification.

    Conclusions:

    • "Uh" and "um" are conventional English words, not mere random hesitations.
    • Speakers strategically plan and produce these vocalizations to manage speaking time and convey communicative intent.
    • This planned use of "uh" and "um" highlights sophisticated cognitive processes underlying fluent speech production.