Language Observation, Essay Example

Individuals that are not native English speakers exhibit many characteristics that make it apparent that they are not speaking their first language. Even when individuals speak with proper grammar and have an unnoticeable accent, they tend to use language in a manner that a native speaker would not. In addition, they tend to spend extra time thinking about how they will phrase their thoughts so that the meaning of their words is the same as it would have been in their native language. Typically, native speakers of other languages use their native language to create thoughts and must therefore translate these thoughts to a new language before beginning to speak. In this observation with Afaq, it is clear that she spent a lot of time thinking about the words she would speak, as indicated by the pauses in her words in addition to the use of the word “um”.

At the beginning of the dialogue, I introduced myself in addition to the intent of the conversation. When I asked Afaq to explain her background, she was very talkative and wished to share a lot of information with me without being prompted to provide me with precise details of her life. This demonstrated that she felt she was confident with regards to the spoken language even though she did not have a proficiency level that is equivalent to that of a native English speaker. In addition, her grammar and sentence structure was not perfect, but this is not what lef to the pauses in her speech. Afaq began the dialogue by stating “my name is Afaq Hamad I am from pakistan originally I came here in 2007 um well before that I came here a couple at least twice um without my parents because my parents had moved here before me um”. Her use of the “um” sound indicated that she needed to pause for a brief moment during her speech in order to gain a greater understanding of the words she would use in the response to follow. The “um” sound was made more than three times in the first sentence, indicating that Afaq needed to do this frequently in order to be sure that the words she was saying were a good translation of the thoughts that she was experiencing in her native language (Onion).

While Afaq demonstrated a decent command of language through the interview, it is important to note that the use of “um” clouded some of her meaning. It seems that it took me a longer time to process her words than it would have had she not paused in between her sentences. This action also made it more difficult for me to be sure about the direction she would be heading with her sentences, which required me to think about her words to a greater extent than I would with most people that I listen to regularly. It is likely that as Afaq continues to communicate to people in English, she will eventually reduce the amount of times she says “um” when she talks. People that have lived in a country where their second language is spoken for a long time have a better ability to begin to have thoughts in this new language. Once this occurs for Afaq, it will be easier for him to verbalize her thoughts in English.

The amount of information that Afaq offers to me in the dialogue shows that she is motivated to use English correctly, but it is possible that she does not feel confident compared to other individuals that she knows that are ESL learners. Therefore, her use of “um” reflects this lack of confidence. When individuals that are native English speakers engage in monologues or dialogues, there is some degree of likelihood that they will occasionally use “um” in their speech. In the classroom setting, this is common among students of all ages because they feel that they are being judged by their peers as they speak. This is often made worse when they are asked to stand in front of a room to make a presentation because all eyes are on them. As a consequence, the use of “um” can be said to be a result of nervousness. Even native English speakers need to pause when they are nervous in order to collect their thoughts. It is expected that Afaq’s use of “um” will decrease as she becomes less nervous and gains a greater command of the translation process (Gordon). It is important to consider, however, that Afaq may feel that she is being put on the spot in this particular situation and as a result, it using “um” more frequently than she usually would. She may be nervous because she knows that she is being recorded and that this dialogue would later be analyzed.

In order to help individuals with pausing in speech, it is important to provide them with reasonable ways to practice. One of the most commonly used techniques that helps people to prepare for presentations is to repeat a certain dialogue in front of a mirror until it looks or sounds good (McKay). While this method is commonly used for individuals that are native English speakers, this is also applicable to individuals who are ESL learners. In English, many words and phrases are used repeatedly, so these individuals would benefit by practicing these common phrases until they can be said confidently (Cohen). This skill could then be reinforced by using these practiced phrases in daily conversations so that they eventually become a part of regular use. In this manner, the ESL speaker will grow more accustomed to using these phrases in their speech, which will allow them to minimize the amount of time they spend thinking about their words before speaking them. Overall, this will help raise their confidence in a manner that allows their speech to be more consistent.

In conclusion, the most striking aspect of Afaq’s speech is that she used “um” a lot. These pauses are used out of nervousness or the need to think about one’s word choice. ESL speakers therefore use “um” a lot due to a combination of a lack of confidence in addition to a need to consider the words that are being spoken before they are verbalized. The use of “um” can be removed from speech by providing these individuals with a means by which they can practice speeches in addition to common words and phrases. Over time as these words become familiar, it is expected that “um” will be said less and less until it is removed from the speech altogether.

Works Cited

Cohen SD. Tips on Public Speaking: Eliminating the Dreaded “Um”. 22 October 2012. Web. 28 April 2015.

Gordon W. How Can I Avoid Filler Words Like “Um” When I Talk? 11 Feb. 2014. Web. 28 April 2015.

Onion A. Psychologists Say ‘Um’ and ‘Uh’ Have Meaning. 6 June 2015. Web. 28 April 2015.

McKay B. Becoming Well-Spoken: How to Minimize Your Uh’s and Um’s. 14 June 2015. Web. 28 April 2015.