Filler
A sound or word (um, uh, er, like, you know) used in spontaneous speech to fill pauses while the speaker thinks. Fillers maintain the turn while purchasing thinking time.
Real World
Transcripts of Love Island contestants' conversations show 'like' used dozens of times per minute, functioning as a filler and hedge rather than a comparative — a pattern linguist Alexandra D'Arcy has studied extensively.
Exam Focus
Always state the function of a filler (turn-holding, planning time), not just its name, to access higher AO2 marks.
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