Like, you know when you've read something, and you, like, want to share it with, like, your family and friends? Like, well, that's how I, like, felt after reading this, like, article.
Oh my gosh! It's a trait I can't stand, and it's one I am completely guilty of! I can even trace the roots of its use back to a certain friend of mine. She's no longer living, and I still love her and miss her, but I cringe when I start to hear myself using that word! We were working in Oakland at a large child care center, and she was a dancer, a cultural sponge, and she brought it to me. Of course, you would think that after 15 years, I would be over it, but it is such a hard habit to break!
If you're interested in reading more about it, there's a funny article by Christopher Hitchens from Vanity Fair. If you would rather skip his verbose thoughts about the word, then here's a quick quote:
But I realize that it can't be expelled altogether. It can, however, be pruned and rationed, and made the object of mockery for those who have surrendered to it altogether. The restoration of the word "as," which isn't that hard a word to master, along with "such as," would also be a help in varying the national lingo.
So, like, chew on, like, that for awhile!
I remember exactly when "like" became a word I could not live without. It was in 1983 when the movie "Valley Girl" with Nicholas Cage came out. In high school I had a teacher that banned the "L" word from our written assignments and we were not allowed to use it when we spoke unless it was used correctly. I finally after all these years broke my habit. . .UNTIL I woke up one day late in September to realize that I am now a mom of a teenager! I think that word is like contagious!
Posted by: Janis | March 04, 2010 at 12:26 PM