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Preteens

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Original poster

11 year old saying "like" all the time

109 replies

Beccabell · 14/12/2011 11:52

My 11 year old dd (year 7 at secondary school) has started to use the word "like" constantly as a filler in her conversation. It's not just the odd one or two, it's constant. For example "It was like not there" "that's like so cool". She's been doing it for a while now, but it has got worse in her new school. I think they all do it, but she takes it to a new level. I am starting to worry about the future - interviews etc. I know it's a teen culture thing, but really she is doing it "like" all the time!! Do you think there is any cure for this, or any way I can get her to do it less? I'm even thinking about bribery - a prize if she stops doing it so much. The trouble is, she's not aware of doing it. It's driving me mad.

OP posts:
joshandjamie · 14/12/2011 19:11

Ugh. My son is 7 and constantly says 'literally'. 'I was literally walking to school and I literally couldn't believe it because so and so literally hadn't done their homework.'

He literally has no idea what it means

StopRainingPlease · 14/12/2011 19:13

The thing is, DD can say whole sentences (filled with like, random etc.) that actually have no communicative content. Confused

BellsandWhistles · 14/12/2011 19:33

Yes, StopRainingPlease, that is called Phatic Communion and women and girls do this a lot.
I totally agree with Falalalalagirl (I'm also Secondary English) that most children are able to 'switch' their language when needed. It's the ones who can't or don't, particularly if they are doing it in job interviews, that give me cause for concern.
It's very interesting at GCSE when they are required to study a module on Spoken Language and they start really noticing the language they and others use. I find teen slang fascinating when used in context.

echt · 14/12/2011 20:02

I was just about to post what BellsandWhistles said, so I'll tell story instead.

DD was doing similes at school in Year 7. They were told it was a comparison using as or like. I girl said, with complete gravity: "Oh, you mean she was, like angry?"

:o

echt · 14/12/2011 20:03

Why do I keep missing out the "a"? Angry

timetosmile · 14/12/2011 20:12

like, niiiiiiiiiiiiiightmare!
This thread is like, well random.
soz!

CuriousMama · 14/12/2011 20:29

Ds2 said i 'powned' one of his friends today Xmas Hmm He didn't tell me what it meant but apparently it's a derivative of 'owned' and I'd done this to said friend. DS1 told me what it meant. mind boggles

blueskydrinking · 14/12/2011 20:33

"I swear dan'

What the hell does this mean - can anyone explain?

Or is it actually 'I swear down' but in some kind of fake gangsta accent?

I've not heard this for a while now but they used it ALL the time in a school I used to work in.

"I swear DAN man, it was wicked init"

"If she says that to me ONE MORE TIME, I swear DAN I'm gonna....." etc etc.

We're in the midlands, it was all a bit odd.

JaxTellerIsMyFriend · 14/12/2011 20:37

we have 'like' 'epic' and other words that I have to tune out! Grin

Its a phase (I hope) and wont last. When DS (12) has his friends round and they are chattering away it sounds like foreign language to me.

JaxTellerIsMyFriend · 14/12/2011 20:39

bluesky It is "I swear down" but you are correct, in 'fake, gangsta accent'

Grin

oops I forgot RANDOM! and LOLZ.

ivykaty44 · 14/12/2011 20:43

They all do something and we all had funny saying when we where teens.

i often ask my dd2, what is it like? each time she says like, she becomes irritated and frustrated that I keep calmly asking, what is it like?

Grin

At home it has dwindled, but I guess at school it is said to fit in. Apparently teens like to fit in as they want to be like their peers who eventually they will be adults with - so it is like built in like Wink It makes sense as adults around me have similar ways that y dc think are odd and my parent thinks is odd, each generation needs to make their own path

oldqueenie · 14/12/2011 20:50

wait til she's nearly 15... there's so much more to look forward to!
"you are the worst, you ARE the worst, you are the WORST, YOU are the worst..." [repeat ad nauseam]
"You are Hodge, you are the son of Hodge, you are the Hodgiest etc etc" [no, i have no idea what this actually means]
"soreeeeeee" [ridiculous shrill tone accompanied by hand fluttering]
assorted gansta stylee talk
oh, and the swearing!

saoirse86 · 14/12/2011 21:05

I'm sorry to say this may well last forever!

I'm 25 and have been saying 'like' far too much since I was about 12, despite going to a very nice grammar school! Along with 'seriously', 'no way' and other things I don't even realise I'm saying. Xmas Blush

I do try to stop myself but this has almost got out of control since not having a proper job for ages (I work part time in a pub, working with younger women, and part time on my own talking to no one!). I do find myself being a bit more well spoken around my new middle class older mum friends! Xmas Grin

I also used exclamation marks too often!!!

saoirse86 · 14/12/2011 21:06

*use!

AitchTwoOHoHoHo · 14/12/2011 21:20

someone researched 'like', it was on the radio last year. it has a pretty specific meaning, apparently, it means 'i am saying this thing but Do Not call me on it because i will back down'. that's why teenage girls in particular use it, because their membership of the pack is infinitely more important than them stating an opinion and backing it to the hilt.

blueskydrinking · 14/12/2011 21:35

Thanks JaxTeller !

It was one of those things I always meant to ask but there was just never a right time....

blueskydrinking · 14/12/2011 21:37

Maybe we just need to wait until they have children of their own - I had absolutely no idea how often I say 'right then' and 'oh dear' until DS started talking. It does make me try to ration my own pointless phrases!

AitchTwoOHoHoHo · 14/12/2011 21:38

nope, they do grow out of it apparently, as their social confidence grows.

Mirage · 14/12/2011 21:39

The 15 year old who helps me with the pony says 'proper' all the time.'I was proper furious' or it was 'proper freezing cold'.I can stand that,my pet hate is people who say 'you know?' during every sentence.It seems to be people in their 20s to 30s who are being interviewed on Radio 4 who are the worst offenders.

saoirse86 · 14/12/2011 21:40

It's funny you say that bluesky because it's since having a DD that I've been trying to speak better. And I'm constantly correcting DP's terrible Engliush because he sounds common and I don't want DD to sound common too! Xmas Wink

Shakirasma · 14/12/2011 21:42

According to my nearly 14 yo DD, everything is Awsome!!
There's a frost this morning .....'ooh awesome!'
Grandmas coming over later ...'ooh awesome!'
You've got bread and water for dinner...'ooh awesome!'

Grrrr

seasidesister · 14/12/2011 21:47

Kids I teach are currently speaking so fast its like a machine gun rattle.
I blame Ed Sheeran.

PercyFilth · 14/12/2011 21:48

We used to get told off for saying "this" instead of "a" and "these" instead of "some" .... as in,

"We saw this man outside the pub and he was... etc"
"These kids came over to us and... etc"

Our parents would be like Wink "Which man? Which kids? Show me"

MerryMarigold · 14/12/2011 22:14

My dsis says 'random' all the time. She nearly 36, and a well respected teacher!

FootballFriendSays · 14/12/2011 22:58

Last year's 'loser' has become'epic fail' in our house and 'awesome' is the new 'amazing'. Some things (or people?) also get 'owned' and 'pwned'. It's just like, totally random.