[Cedwards38]

I don't want to be a language Nazi, but something that I thought would be a passing fancy is hanging around for much longer than I ever dreamed. I know language changes, evolves, and grows but this one is becoming increasingly more annoying to me.

Among the generation that includes those persons 30 and younger, the word "like" has become the kudzu of the English language. It gets inserted into every sentence, and often multiple times, in inappropriate places, and adds nothing to communication. In fact, if interpreted literally, it completely changes the meaning of a sentence in an unintended manner. The word like, as it is intended below means, "of the same form, appearance, kind, character, amount, etc.: "

Here are some examples:

"And I was like really annoyed, and he was like laughing at what I said, and that was like so wrong of him to do that." And so I like turned my back to him and like walked away without another word. And he said like, "wait, come back, because I was like just kidding."

If you remove the word like from this paragraph, it actually expresses the thoughts and feelings that the person is trying to convey. The first person was only like annoyed, meaning they really weren't annoyed but were just something like that. He was furious perhaps, or maybe just slightly perturbed?
The second person was like laughing, meaning they weren't really laughing but were doing something like laughing. Coughing maybe, or clearing their throat, or just making funny noises?
It was like wrong, meaning evil, or nefarious?
He then like turned his back, meaning he twisted his neck, or only really turned his side?
Then he like said some words, meaning he mumbled, or maybe what he said was only like that comment, meaning he really said "stop where you are, because I meant to laugh at your extraordinarily poor use of the English language and wasn't kidding at all"?

Anyway, I'm officially an old curmudgeon. Wait, I'm really only like curmudgeonly!

Thank you for allowing me to like waste your time, meaning it was only a partial waste of your time!

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Cedwards38

I don't want to be a language Nazi, but something that I thought would be a passing fancy is hanging around for much longer than I ever dreamed. I know language changes, evolves, and grows but this one is becoming increasingly more annoying to me.

Among the generation that includes those persons 30 and younger, the word "like" has become the kudzu of the English language. It gets inserted into every sentence, and often multiple times, in inappropriate places, and adds nothing to communication. In fact, if interpreted literally, it completely changes the meaning of a sentence in an unintended manner. The word like means "similar too."

Here are some examples:

"And I was like really annoyed, and he was like laughing at what I said, and that was like so wrong of him to do that." And so I like turned my back to him and like walked away without another word. And he said like, "wait, come back, because I was like just kidding."

If you remove the word like from this paragraph, it actually expresses the thoughts and feelings that the person is trying to convey. The first person was only like annoyed, meaning they really weren't annoyed but were just something like that. He was furious perhaps, or maybe just slightly perturbed?
The second person was like laughing, meaning they weren't really laughing but were doing something like laughing. Coughing maybe, or clearing their throat, or just making funny noises?
It was like wrong, meaning evil, or nefarious?
He then like turned his back, meaning he twisted his neck, or only really turned his side?
Then he like said some words, meaning he mumbled, or maybe what he said was only like that comment, meaning he really said "stop where you are, because I meant to laugh at your extraordinarily poor use of the English language and wasn't kidding at all"?

Anyway, I'm officially an old curmudgeon. Wait, I'm really only like curmudgeonly!

Thank you for allowing me to like waste your time!

Wow, like, I don't know how to respond to this!

I know a person in her 30s with a Ph.D. who uses the word "like" as you demonstrated, only not quite as many per sentence. I wonder if it's a substitution for our generation's "uh" or "um."

[manaboutown]

Should this thread like be posted in the Non Villages Discussion? It would be like awesome to have it posted there.

[Ecuadog]

It's like unbelievable.

[CFrance]

Well, I don't, like, like it.

[Penguin]

Originally Posted by Cedwards38

I don't want to be a language Nazi, but something that I thought would be a passing fancy is hanging around for much longer than I ever dreamed. I know language changes, evolves, and grows but this one is becoming increasingly more annoying to me.

Among the generation that includes those persons 30 and younger, the word "like" has become the kudzu of the English language. It gets inserted into every sentence, and often multiple times, in inappropriate places, and adds nothing to communication. In fact, if interpreted literally, it completely changes the meaning of a sentence in an unintended manner. The word like, as it is intended below means, "of the same form, appearance, kind, character, amount, etc.: "

Here are some examples:

"And I was like really annoyed, and he was like laughing at what I said, and that was like so wrong of him to do that." And so I like turned my back to him and like walked away without another word. And he said like, "wait, come back, because I was like just kidding."

If you remove the word like from this paragraph, it actually expresses the thoughts and feelings that the person is trying to convey. The first person was only like annoyed, meaning they really weren't annoyed but were just something like that. He was furious perhaps, or maybe just slightly perturbed?
The second person was like laughing, meaning they weren't really laughing but were doing something like laughing. Coughing maybe, or clearing their throat, or just making funny noises?
It was like wrong, meaning evil, or nefarious?
He then like turned his back, meaning he twisted his neck, or only really turned his side?
Then he like said some words, meaning he mumbled, or maybe what he said was only like that comment, meaning he really said "stop where you are, because I meant to laugh at your extraordinarily poor use of the English language and wasn't kidding at all"?

Anyway, I'm officially an old curmudgeon. Wait, I'm really only like curmudgeonly!

Thank you for allowing me to like waste your time, meaning it was only a partial waste of your time!

You make your point about the word "like" but have you ever paid attention of how people use the word "love". I love that color- I love that dress- I love that car. To me the word love has a special meaning and it makes me nuts how it is used to describe a LIKE for something. Cant change anything it just Pi*&^es me off.

[Ceafolks]

Originally Posted by Ecuadog

It's like unbelievable.

I like agree. Like awesome dude.

[tomwed]

I did a little research and was quite surprised what a real problem loosing "the L word" is for very smart people. All this time I thought it was only used by young people looking for a common language.

[side note, my ADD kicked in]
What I also accidently found out is there is a National Curmudgeon Day on Jan 15. I don't know how I'm going to celebrate that day yet but I will. Maybe a big party will work. I already have a guest list. Maybe this is old news. I'm still new around here.

And................
If there can be a talk like a pirate day why can't there be an act out like a curmudgeon day.

Thanks for posting.

[CFrance]

Originally Posted by Penguin

You make your point about the word "like" but have you ever paid attention of how people use the word "love". I love that color- I love that dress- I love that car. To me the word love has a special meaning and it makes me nuts how it is used to describe a LIKE for something. Cant change anything it just Pi*&^es me off.

But at least that means something to the speaker, even if the word "love" is used incorrectly. In Cedward's post, the word "like" means nothing to the speaker other than as a filler between words.

[chachacha]

many people (i might be guilty) have a bad habit of putting "you know" in their speech far too often...i guess it is a seeking of agreement or acquiescence, you know?

[KayakerNC]

Originally Posted by tomwed

What I also accidently found out is there is a National Curmudgeon Day on Jan 15. I don't know how I'm going to celebrate that day yet but I will. Maybe a big party will work. I already have a guest list. Maybe this is old news. I'm still new around here.
And................
If there can be a talk like a pirate day why can't there be an act out like a curmudgeon day.

Thanks for posting.

Hey! Who needs a special day?
Just put on your sandals over your black sox and go chase some kids off your lawn.

(Kids being anyone under 60 y/o)

[DruannB]

That's a hoot.

Originally Posted by KayakerNC

Hey! Who needs a special day?
Just put on your sandals over your black sox and go chase some kids off your lawn.

(Kids being anyone under 60 y/o)

[Loudoll]

Originally Posted by chachacha

many people (i might be guilty) have a bad habit of putting "you know" in their speech far too often...i guess it is a seeking of agreement or acquiescence, you know?

Caroline Kennedy did this a lot during her first Obama endorsement. I'm trying to imagine her mother during the white house tour using "ya know".

[dbussone]

Originally Posted by Penguin

You make your point about the word "like" but have you ever paid attention of how people use the word "love". I love that color- I love that dress- I love that car. To me the word love has a special meaning and it makes me nuts how it is used to describe a LIKE for something. Cant change anything it just Pi*&^es me off.

Like, I love what you expressed.

[rtharner]

Like this post!