Difference between revisions of "Filler"
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For example, I am repairing a damaged bookcase but have temporarily mislaid my screwdriver, which I was using until five minutes ago: if I can’t immediately recall the word ‘screwdriver’, I might ask my wife ‘Where’s the '''thingamajig'''? I’m sure I left it over there on the table.’ Among other '''place-holders''' used to refer to things are; ‘'''whatchamacallit'''’ (as in ‘The '''whatchamacallit''' I bought last week has proved extremely useful’); and ’'''whatdoyoucallit'''’, as in ‘A '''whatdoyoucallit''' would have made the task much easier’. As these examples illustrate, '''place-holders''' referring to things are normally used with the [[definite]] or [[indefinite article]]. | For example, I am repairing a damaged bookcase but have temporarily mislaid my screwdriver, which I was using until five minutes ago: if I can’t immediately recall the word ‘screwdriver’, I might ask my wife ‘Where’s the '''thingamajig'''? I’m sure I left it over there on the table.’ Among other '''place-holders''' used to refer to things are; ‘'''whatchamacallit'''’ (as in ‘The '''whatchamacallit''' I bought last week has proved extremely useful’); and ’'''whatdoyoucallit'''’, as in ‘A '''whatdoyoucallit''' would have made the task much easier’. As these examples illustrate, '''place-holders''' referring to things are normally used with the [[definite]] or [[indefinite article]]. | ||
| − | Again, I happened to meet a former colleague whose name I could not, and still cannot, recall. In telling a friend about the encounter, I might say ‘I saw '''whatshisname''' on the High Street this morning – you know who I mean; he was in the Biology Department.’ Among other '''place-holders''' used to refer to people are ''''whatshername'''' (as in ‘''''Whatsername'''' ‘phoned again yesterday’); ''''whatdoyoucallhim'''' (as in ‘I’ve just discovered that '''whatdoyoucallhim''' – the man who used to live next door – has married John’s sister’; and ''''whatdyoucallher'''' (as in ‘I hear that '''whatdoyoucallher''' has moved to London’. As these examples illustrate, '''place-holders''' referring to persons are normally used without the [[definite]] or [[indefinite]] | + | Again, I happened to meet a former colleague whose name I could not, and still cannot, recall. In telling a friend about the encounter, I might say ‘I saw '''whatshisname''' on the High Street this morning – you know who I mean; he was in the Biology Department.’ Among other '''place-holders''' used to refer to people are ''''whatshername'''' (as in ‘''''Whatsername'''' ‘phoned again yesterday’); ''''whatdoyoucallhim'''' (as in ‘I’ve just discovered that '''whatdoyoucallhim''' – the man who used to live next door – has married John’s sister’; and ''''whatdyoucallher'''' (as in ‘I hear that '''whatdoyoucallher''' has moved to London’. As these examples illustrate, '''place-holders''' referring to persons are normally used without the [[definite]] or [[indefinite article]], i.e., they behave like the proper names for which they are a replacement. |
It cannot be overemphasised that all these '''place-holders''' are only used in informal conversational contexts. In writing or academic contexts they are not permissible. | It cannot be overemphasised that all these '''place-holders''' are only used in informal conversational contexts. In writing or academic contexts they are not permissible. | ||
Revision as of 10:44, 19 May 2022
Sometimes when we are speaking we wish, or need, to refer to something for which we do not know, or cannot immediately recall, the correct word, or to refer to a person whose name we do not know, or cannot remember, or for some reason do not wish to disclose.
In these circumstances it is possible to use in place of the correct word or name what in the study of language is called a place-holder or filler, i.e., a word which occupies the same place in the sentence, i.e., has the same grammatical function, as the word or name we do not know, and so enables us, despite our not knowing the correct word or name, to express a complete thought which, hopefully, will be understood by the person to whom we are speaking.
For example, I am repairing a damaged bookcase but have temporarily mislaid my screwdriver, which I was using until five minutes ago: if I can’t immediately recall the word ‘screwdriver’, I might ask my wife ‘Where’s the thingamajig? I’m sure I left it over there on the table.’ Among other place-holders used to refer to things are; ‘whatchamacallit’ (as in ‘The whatchamacallit I bought last week has proved extremely useful’); and ’whatdoyoucallit’, as in ‘A whatdoyoucallit would have made the task much easier’. As these examples illustrate, place-holders referring to things are normally used with the definite or indefinite article.
Again, I happened to meet a former colleague whose name I could not, and still cannot, recall. In telling a friend about the encounter, I might say ‘I saw whatshisname on the High Street this morning – you know who I mean; he was in the Biology Department.’ Among other place-holders used to refer to people are 'whatshername' (as in ‘'Whatsername' ‘phoned again yesterday’); 'whatdoyoucallhim' (as in ‘I’ve just discovered that whatdoyoucallhim – the man who used to live next door – has married John’s sister’; and 'whatdyoucallher' (as in ‘I hear that whatdoyoucallher has moved to London’. As these examples illustrate, place-holders referring to persons are normally used without the definite or indefinite article, i.e., they behave like the proper names for which they are a replacement.
It cannot be overemphasised that all these place-holders are only used in informal conversational contexts. In writing or academic contexts they are not permissible.
In the study of language the word filler is also applied to the words or verbal fragments which (some) speakers use to fill unwanted gaps or pauses in what they say. Among these fillers are: er, um (both can serve to express doubt or hesitation), oh , well, you know. Another name for a linguistic element of this type is pragmatic particle.
