'Um' is . . . um . . . a great way to think of what you want to say
Interviewing people requires special skills. In a recent episode of Songbirds radio show, Ted, a journalism student, interviewed an HIV-positive girl. Her name was Cindy and she had agreed to speak to Ted. In the extract below, notice how tactful Ted is in asking questions. Pay attention to the use of a very useful English sound - 'um'.
Ted: Hi Cindy. My name's Ted.
Cindy: Hi.
Ted: Thanks for agreeing to talk to me.
Cindy: That's okay. You see I thought if I told you my story and you put it in your student magazine, then I might be able to help other young people.
Ted: Yeah, right. All our readers are students and I'm sure they'll all be really interested in what you have to say, Cindy.
Cindy: Thanks.
Ted: Would you mind if I record our conversation?
Cindy: Um...
Ted: It's just so that I can make sure that I use your actual words. You know what I mean?
Cindy: Yeah. Sure. Okay.
Ted: So... um... how did you become HIV-positive, Cindy?
Cindy: My boyfriend.
Ted: You're... um... boyfriend... um... was he um...?
Cindy: HIV positive? Yes. But he didn't tell me.
Ted: I see. He kept it a secret.
Cindy: He told me he loved me. I believed him. He told me that if I really loved him I would do anything for him. And, I did. And that's how I got HIV.
Did you notice how Ted and Cindy both often say 'um'. It is called a hesitation marker in English. The sound 'um' does not actually mean anything.
When you say 'um', it shows that you are uncertain about what to say, or that you are thinking of what to say. It can be a very useful sound to learn to make - next time you cannot think what to say in English, buy some time by saying a very long 'um'.
Graphic: 2009P4GYO
