What is the meaning of um?
We make hesitation noises and tiny pauses in conversation all the time, but what’s the meaning behind them? And is it true that different cultures have different tolerances for silence?
We’re talking to conversational scholar — and author of How We Talk — Nick Enfield on this episode of Talk the Talk.
Listen to this episode
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For a pause, how long is too long? Radio people are very sensitive to even the tiniest pause, but Rewi shares some of his expertise.
Also at https://www.patreon.com/posts/19095574
Animation
by the Mystery Animator
Full interview: Simeon Floyd
Daniel chats with researcher Simeon Floyd about his new paper on thanking. Thanking isn’t as common as you’d think, but we still do it a lot in English, compared to other languages. So what has the team noticed?
Thanks to Simeon, and to all our patrons.
Also at https://www.patreon.com/posts/19053078
Full interview: Nick Enfield
Here’s the complete audio of Daniel chatting with Nick Enfield, author of the book How We Talk. We make hesitation noises and tiny pauses in conversation all the time, but what’s the meaning behind them? Is it true that different cultures have different tolerances for silence? And how is this work being received among scholars who haven’t considered this to be worth studying?
Thanks to Nick, and to all our patrons.
Also at https://www.patreon.com/posts/19055564
Cutting Room Floor
The Talk the Talk team has been engaging in some unsavoury pursuits, like running and wearing unconventional jacketry, and Ben is not having any. And Hedvig is having trouble with English politeness routines. At least Wire will get us through.
Bonus word of the week! (But it’s sweary.) How did the meaning of “fuck it” find its way into a court case?
Also at https://www.patreon.com/posts/cutting-room-327-19329400
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- Jack
- Matt
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Show notes
Unspoken cooperation more important than saying ‘thank you’
https://sydney.edu.au/news-opinion/news/2018/05/23/unspoken-cooperation-more-important-than-saying–thank-you-.html
Floyd, et al.: Universals and cultural diversity in the expression of gratitude
http://rsos.royalsocietypublishing.org/content/5/5/180391
Think You Always Say Thank You? Oh, Please
https://www.nytimes.com/2018/05/22/arts/23thank-you.html
Google just gave a stunning demo of Assistant making an actual phone call
https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/8/17332070/google-assistant-makes-phone-call-demo-duplex-io-2018
Exclusive: Google’s Duplex could make Assistant the most lifelike AI yet
https://www.cnet.com/features/google-assistant-duplex-at-io-could-become-the-most-lifelike-ai-voice-assistant-yet/
Google’s AI sounds like a human on the phone — should we be worried?
https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/9/17334658/google-ai-phone-call-assistant-duplex-ethical-social-implications
Google Assistant making calls pretending to be human not only without disclosing that it’s a bot, but adding “ummm” and “aaah” to deceive the human on the other end with the room cheering it… horrifying. Silicon Valley is ethically lost, rudderless and has not learned a thing.
— zeynep tufekci (@zeynep) 9 May 2018
Google now says controversial AI voice calling system will identify itself to humans
https://www.theverge.com/2018/5/10/17342414/google-duplex-ai-assistant-voice-calling-identify-itself-update
Google says it’s designing Duplex with ‘disclosure built-in’
https://www.cnet.com/news/google-says-its-designing-duplex-with-disclosure-built-in/
Professor Nick Enfield
http://sydney.edu.au/arts/staff/profiles/nick.enfield.php
How We Talk: The Inner Workings of Conversation
https://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/n-j-enfield/how-we-talk/9780465059942/
A linguist explains how Sophia the robot does—and doesn’t—talk like us
https://qz.com/1223179/linguist-nick-enfield-analyses-how-sophia-the-robot-does-and-doesnt-talk-like-us/
Um, Uh, Huh? Are These Words Clues To Understanding Human Language?
https://www.npr.org/sections/13.7/2017/11/13/563715578/um-uh-huh-are-these-words-clues-to-understanding-human-language
How we talk
http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/drawingroom/how-we-talk/9224230
Ahem, you have “nano” in your bio. That is 100% synonymous with bs.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) 24 May 2018
Online Etymology Dictionary: nano-
https://www.etymonline.com/word/nano-
Nanotech Buzz
https://medium.com/@upulie/nanotech-buzz-2d2d6f63d27
Scientists are roasting Elon Musk for his comments on nanotechnology
https://www.indy100.com/article/elon-musk-nanotechnology-scientists-roasting-twitter-tesla-spacex-8370466
I read a tweet by Elon musk yesterday where he was being a complete jerk to Upulie Divisekera, a nanotechnologist. He claimed that she had nano in her bio, ‘which is 100% synonymous with BS’. Let me assume that BS = bullshit.
Today, I’m at a seminar where senior people from 3M,— AB (@ajit_bhaskar) 25 May 2018
Nanotechnology Applications: A Variety of Uses
http://www.understandingnano.com/nanotech-applications.html
Benefits and Applications
https://www.nano.gov/you/nanotechnology-benefits
Know Your Meme: Yesn’t
http://knowyourmeme.com/memes/yesnt
Petition: Change the word “No” in the English language to “Yesn’t” (Yesnt)
https://www.change.org/p/me-change-the-word-no-in-the-english-language-to-yesn-t
Facebook: Yesn’t
https://www.facebook.com/yesn0t/
“F*** it”: Federal Court throws the (grammar) book at Westpac over unconscionable rate-rigging attempt
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-25/westpac-rate-rigging-case-depended-on-use-of-f-word/9796678
Westpac: We didn’t try to f–k the BBSW
http://www.afr.com/business/banking-and-finance/financial-services/westpac-we-didnt-try-to-fk-the-bbsw-20171122-gzr3ht
Commonwealth Bank boss Ian Narev says sorry for multi-million-dollar financial planning scandal
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-03/commonwealth-bank-responds-to-financial-planning-inquiry/5568504
Westpac claims win in rate rigging case
https://www.afr.com/business/banking-and-finance/westpac-wins-bbsw-interest-rate-rigging-case-20180523-h10gyn#yQaVcRZvlgHdMI6M.99
Westpac engaged in unconscionable conduct but failed to rig BBSW interest rate, court finds
http://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-05-24/westpac-rate-rigging-case/9794944
Transcript
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