muletilla

English translation: filler words/fillers

GLOSSARY ENTRY (DERIVED FROM QUESTION BELOW)

Spanish term or phrase:	muletillas
English translation:	filler words/fillers
Entered by:	Heidi C

05:40 Nov 26, 2006

Spanish to English translations [PRO]
Linguistics / language, análisis del discurso

Spanish term or phrase: muletilla

una muletilla es esas palabritas que usamos al hablar que realmente no significan nada en el discurso, sólo son un relleno que usamos mientras pensamos.

por ejemplo: o sea, es que, este, sabes....

ej: Necesito, este, que me digas, sabes, a dónde vamos a ir, o sea, no vaya a ser que...
en inglés, sería como:
He's like, totally, like, great¡

¿cuál es el término en inglés?

¡gracias, lo sabía, estoy desesperada, o sea, no lo encuentro en ningún lado¡
:)

Heidi C KudoZ activity Questions: 21 (1 open) (1 without valid answers) (3 closed without grading) Answers: 961
Local time: 07:22

"filler" words

Explanation:
"filler" words

These are just "filler" words/sounds.... such as uhhhhh, uhmmmmmm, ehhhh, etc.......... There is not a specific term in English for these words/sounds, they are just as you have stated, to allow the speaker a second or two to collect his or her thoughts before continuing with what is being said......
I know that word reference calls these "pet words" but, this may also have another usage in English, so I feel that filler words would be the better translation with this in mind........

Suerte!!

Selected response from:

Robert Copeland
United States
Local time: 07:22

Grading comment

Thanks Robert¡ This is the term I knew... I also appreciate Lia's comments.
4 KudoZ points were awarded for this answer

Summary of answers provided

4 +4

"filler" words

Robert Copeland

5 +1

Pet word

Noha Issa

5 +1

crutch word

Silvia Brandon-Pérez

word whisker

Sarah FRUTOS BAMBERRY

(verbal) tics

Nicholas Ferreira

Catch phrase

Gad Kohenov

pet expression

Karina Cappelletti

4 -1

pet phrase

ElChe (X)

interjections, bridge words, conversation oilers

Lia Fail (X)

Answers

8 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

Pet word

Explanation:
Espero que te sirva de algo.
Suerte!

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Note added at 14 mins (2006-11-26 05:54:56 GMT)
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Also called language crutches
See: http://forum.wordreference.com/showthread.php?t=57684

Reference: http://www.wordreference.com/es/en/translation.asp?spen=mule...

Noha Issa
Local time: 13:22
Native speaker of:

Arabic

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you Noha, I had found this option too but the other one works better for what I need.

14 mins confidence:

peer agreement (net): +4

"filler" words

Robert Copeland
United States
Local time: 07:22
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Spanish
PRO pts in category: 8

Grading comment

Thanks Robert¡ This is the term I knew... I also appreciate Lia's comments.

1 hr confidence:

peer agreement (net): -1

pet phrase

Explanation:
.

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Note added at 1 hr (2006-11-26 07:40:14 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

muletilla: f (palabra) pet word
(frase) pet phrase

http://www.wordreference.com/es/en/translation.asp?spen=mule...

ElChe (X)
Vatican City State
Local time: 13:22
Native speaker of:

English,

Spanish

Notes to answerer

Asker: Gracias che...

2 hrs confidence:

word whisker

Explanation:
Urban Dictionary: word whisker.

An irrelevant, meaningless word or noise that is interjected into speech when the speaker has run out of words, but is determined to keep on speaking.

Reference: http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=word+whisker
Reference: http://www.speechmastery.com/Fluency.html

Sarah FRUTOS BAMBERRY
Spain
Local time: 13:22
Native speaker of: English

Notes to answerer

Asker: thanks Sarah

4 hrs confidence:

Catch phrase

Explanation:
Can also be pet word, tag.

Gad Kohenov
Israel
Local time: 14:22
Works in field
Native speaker of:

French,

Hebrew

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thanks over there in the desert¡ I had considered the 3 options you propose, but Robert's proposal is what I needed.

8 hrs confidence:

pet expression

Explanation:
The Oxford Dictionary
es una muletilla que usa mucho: it’s one of his pet expressions, it’s an expression o tag he uses a lot

Karina Cappelletti
Argentina
Local time: 08:22
Native speaker of: Spanish

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thanks

8 hrs confidence:

interjections, bridge words, conversation oilers

Explanation:
I have heard oilers used a lot in teaching circles.

Interjections is another possibility (you know, right? etc)

# A word or expression which has no grammatical function but typically expresses emotion.
www.cus.cam.ac.uk/~cjp16/spanish/linggloss.htm

# An exclamation inserted into an utterance without grammatical connection (for example: oh!, ah!, ouch!, well!).
www.englishclub.com/grammar/grammar-glossary.htm

# A word or phrase that conveys emotion.
www.baylorschool.org/academics/english/studentwork/stover/t...

# a word or phrase, usually invariable in form, that is thrown into a conversation to exclaim about something. It may be used to express emotion, indicate surprise, or call attention sharply to something. Examples: oh! indeed! alas! hey!
www.biblecentre.net/nt/greek/alex/glo.htm

# the action of interjecting or interposing an action or remark that interrupts
wordnet.princeton.edu/perl/webwn

# An interjection, sometimes called a filled pause, is a part of speech that usually has no grammatical connection to the rest of the sentence and simply expresses emotion on the part of the speaker, although most interjections have clear definitions.Interjections are generally uninflected function words and have sometimes been seen as sentence-words, since they can replace or be replaced by a whole sentence (they are ). Sometimes however interjections combine with other words to form sentences.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Interjection

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Note added at 8 hrs (2006-11-26 14:06:15 GMT)
--------------------------------------------------

Robert's right as far as I'm concerned:

. Reduce your usage of filler words.
Filler words are words that we say unconsciously that add no meaning to our communications. Examples of filler words are um, uh, ah, okay, so, you know, well, but, like, etc. The big problem with filler words is that if you use them frequently, they tend to chip away at your credibility and can make you sound unsure and unprepared. To start reducing usage, you first have to become aware of when and how frequently you use them. The best way to do this is to either audiotape or videotape yourself giving a presentation. Then listen, or better yet, have someone else listen to the tape for filler words. Provide a checklist of filler words and ask the reviewer them count how many you use. It’s fine to use one here and there—using them repeatedly is the problem. Once you have an awareness of which filler words you use, you can start trying to reduce them. Substitute a pause where the filler words would normally occur and your listeners will thank you.
http://www.businessknowhow.com/growth/presentscs.htm

iller Words (Muletillas) in Spanish - Learn Spanish Language
In English we often use filler words such as 'hmmm' and 'err' as we collect our thoughts. What is the equivalent in Spanish?
spanish.about.com/od/spanishvocabulary/a/filler_words.htm - 27k - Cached - Similar pages
Filler words
You won't learn about them in most Spanish textbooks, but the fact is that nearly all Spanish speakers use them daily: muletillas, or filler words. ...
spanish.about.com/b/a/257382.htm - 23k - Cached - Similar pages
Urban Dictionary: technically
Filler words add absolutely nothing to the sentence being spoken. ... Filler words are rarely used in writing and are part of acquired speech habits. ...
www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=technically - 17k - Cached - Similar pages
Sentences should not contain filler words and unnecessary jargon
Sentences should not contain filler words and unnecessary jargon. Filler words. Previous slide · Next slide · Back to first slide · View graphic version.
www.botany.uwc.ac.za/sciwriting/sciwrite/writing2/tsld012.h... - 2k - Cached - Similar pages
Sentences should not contain filler words and unnecessary jargon
First ...
www.botany.uwc.ac.za/sciwriting/sciwrite/writing2/sld012.ht... - 2k - Cached - Similar pages
Filler (linguistics) - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
[edit] Filler Words in Different Languages. In Italian, e is one of the most common fillers; In Mandarin Chinese speakers often say zhege zhege zhege ("this ...
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Filler_(linguistics) - 14k - Cached - Similar pages
Elon Pendulum
"Once these filler words are spoken, the listener instantly has an idea about the speaker," Elon ... They do not like filler words and do not respect them. ...
org.elon.edu/pendulum/issues/2002/103102/Features/Filler.html - 9k - Cached - Similar pages
Filler words
First Previous Next Last Index Home Text. Slide 15 of 58.
www.rpbourret.com/kgallag/course/S2/sld015.htm - 3k - Cached - Similar pages
Filler words
Filler words. Wordy:. 1. The new application is Central Software System (abbreviated CSS). 2. My manager considers a laptop an unnecessary luxury. ...
www.rpbourret.com/kgallag/course/S2/tsld014.htm - 3k - Cached - Similar pages
[ More results from www.rpbourret.com ]
Amazon.com: "filler words": Key Phrase page
Key Phrase page for filler words: Books containing the phrase filler words.
www.amazon.com/phrase/filler-words - 64k - Cached - Similar pages
Amazon: So You'd Like To... - View Guide ". um . stop . you know ...
Qualifications: someone who stopped using filler words ... These words are what you normally think of as filler words, and they are the most jarring, ...
www.amazon.com/gp/richpub/syltguides/fullview/15IBD8UL6F98D - 142k - Cached - Similar pages
Quality Techniques
Filler words in agent conversations can undermine confidence. ... Filler words are a necessary evil in the world of telephone communication. ...
www.metrics.net/Articles/Are_You_Still_There.asp - 9k - Cached - Similar pages
Style
Especially when we talk, we use a lot of little filler words that don’t ... In writing, these filler words and phrases become more obvious and act as delays ...
www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/handouts/style.html - 42k - Cached - Similar pages
stop using filler words/phrases such as "like, um, uh, ah, ya know ...
stop using filler words/phrases such as "like, um, uh, ah, ya know, I mean, etc..." People doing this:. vavavoooom. Philadelphia. I want to: ...
www.43things.com/things/view/1109558 - 11k - Cached - Similar pages

Lia Fail (X)
Spain
Local time: 13:22
Native speaker of:

English
PRO pts in category: 8

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thanks Lia for the references... I appreciate your giving additional information to back another answer¡¡¡

8 hrs confidence:

(verbal) tics

Explanation:
I am a B.A. with extensive studies in public speaking. Whenever we spoke about muletillas in English, we always used the term "tic" or verbal tic to be complete. This is the precise, technical term.

Here's some more info:
http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/tic

tic /tɪk/

–noun
2. a persistent or recurrent behavioral trait; personal quirk: her distinctive verbal tics.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

[Origin: 1790–1800; < F (of expressive orig.)]
Dictionary.com Unabridged (v 1.0.1)
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2006.

Nicholas Ferreira
Canada
Local time: 07:22
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Spanish
PRO pts in category: 4

Notes to answerer

Asker: Thank you Nicholas.

7 hrs confidence:

peer agreement (net): +1

crutch word

Explanation:
Just about every writer unconsciously leans on a "crutch" word.scottonwriting.net/sowblog/posts/573.aspx

What Are Your Crutch Words? I figured it would be a good idea to consciously identify and excise some of the non-descriptive words I tend to lean on...pj.doland.org/archives/016325.php

10/21/2003 Crutch words and other sins: In her latest column, Pat Holt offers her Top Ten list of mistakes writers don’t see ...www.californiaauthors.com/archives/00000508.shtml

As Grammarian you observe the quality of language used during the meeting, watch for crutch words, and keep a careful eye on lectern etiquette. ...
ssmu.mcgill.ca/tmmcgill/man/grammar.php - 10k

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Note added at 10 hrs (2006-11-26 15:49:35 GMT) Post-grading
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En la escuela y en la universidad, y luego como escritora, siempre nos advertían que no usáramos crutch words. Lamento que no hayas leído mi respuesta a fondo, incluyendo los enlaces que usan la frase 'crutch word,' pero estoy aprendiendo a no molestarme. En todo caso, de nada.

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Note added at 21 hrs (2006-11-27 03:00:42 GMT) Post-grading
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Heidi, agradezco tu respuesta, y por supuesto que tenías que escoger la opción que estabas buscando. En realidad en estos foros todos aprendemos...

Silvia Brandon-Pérez
United States
Local time: 04:22
Works in field
Native speaker of:

English,

Spanish

Notes to answerer

Asker: thanks

Asker: Yo conocía el término que necesitaba, sólo no lo recordaba: la respuesta que elegí es el término que se usa en análisis del discurso, y precisamente el que estaba buscando. Leí tu respuesta completamente, pero no era la que yo buscaba. La verdad que agradecí a todos, porque es la primera vez que recibo respuestas bien pensadas y que se nota que no son "lo primero que se me ocurrió" o adivinanzas. De verdad (no muletilla) te agradecí porque era una opción buena y válida.

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