b'Language MattersELLERY AVE Is saying I think a sign of insecurity?BY KRISTEN DI GENNAROIRVIN 751 IRVINGTON AVE 040 in US A astostopsayingIweather information on his phone, KERRIGAN BLVDA V E Do you enjoy language and watching it evolve over time? Perhaps youre a grammar nerd whose heart sings when the right verb form is used. Or maybe MAPLEWOOD NJ, 07 C L I N T O N you get frustrated when people misuse certain words. Matters Magazine cares about language too and herewith initiates a new Language Matters column.FRANKLIN TER n article in my Google newsfeed advised read- sohewasntrelyingonhiscol-GTON AVE ersleagues for the most accurate report. think,claimingthisInstead,hewasdoingconversa-P A R K E R A V E phraseconveysinse- tion,makingsmalltalkuntilthe curity or lack of con- conversation moved to other topics. HILLCREST RD fidence.ForlinguistsKaty responded by also doing con-(peoplewhostudylanguagephe- versation,usingmorewordsthan CHERRY PL nomena), I think is often used as anecessary, including I think. With pragmatic markera phrase signalingherabrupt,strictlyfactualreply, the speakers attention toITracy provided information but context,suchthealso ended that part of the listener and the rela- conversation. Tracys PEACHTREE RD VISITtionship between thethink directresponse,in 751 Irvington Ave, speaker and listener.fact, is an example of con-Maplewood, NJ 07040 Inreallanguageversational failure.For use only by adults 21 or older. situations, people do muchThe simple addition of I morethantransferinformation.think is a strategy many of us use Theyalsoconveyattitudestowardto keep a conversation going. It also theirmessagesandtheirlisteners.showsrespectforourconversation Theydothisthroughtheuseofpartnersbynotassertingourselves pragmaticmarkers.Whenspeakersas experts and, consequently, imply-introduce an idea with I think, thising that they lack the knowledge we couldmeantheyarentsureaboutbring to the conversation. whatfollows,butitcouldalsobeSo what does all this mean?asignofrespectfortheirlistenersInsteadofadvisingthoughtful whose views may differ, or even just aspeakerstostopsayingIthink, politeness strategy to soften the toneI think we could pay closer atten-and keep the conversation flowing.tion to what these phrases are really Heresareal-lifeexample.Paul,doing in our conversations. Tracy and Katy are colleagues enjoy- Have you been told to stop say-ingsomesocialtimetogetheroneing I think? What purpose does I morning, as they usually do, beforethink serve in conversations youve heading off to work in their separatehad?Whatotherlanguageadvice offices.Theseconversationsusuallyhaveyouheardorgivenothers? last about 15 minutes or so. Please email your thoughts or ques-Paul:So Im trying to get a handletionstoKristendiGennaro,your on the weather predictions for snow. locallinguistatlanguagematters@Katy:I think the latest now is formattersmagazine.com. The best in independent,tonight. Kristen di Gennaro is an associate mainstream, international, andTracy:Its tonight. professor of English at Pace University, [conversation abruptly ends] where she teaches courses in linguistics. classic films screened 7 days a week In this situation, Paul was mak- She lives in Maplewood and sometimes Become a Member for discounts on tickets and many more perksing conversation by drawing on thegathers language data during her com-weather as a starting point, a com- mute on the train. To quote a poster 486 Bloomfield Avenue, Montclair, NJ | TheClairidge.org mon scenario. He, like most of us,in her office, Keep your mouth open hasaccesstoup-to-the-minute linguists need data!10/ matters magazine / spring 2025'