Yeah-yeah, the language is burdened with more verbal litter [The Scribbler]

Welcome to this week’s edition of Verbal World News, an occasional feature focusing on word constructs that disturb Dr. Scribblerscold.

Today’s entry: “Yeah-yeah.’’

Dr. Scribblerscold began noticing “yeah-yeah’’ about two or three months ago, which means it’s probably much older than that. Maybe it began in California 15 years ago.

“Yeah-yeah’’ is uttered as one word, often by itself and sometimes at the beginning of a response to another speaker’s comment.

An example might be, “Yeah-yeah, I know just what you’re talking about.’’

The use of “yeah-yeah’’ is spreading quickly, as such trends tend to do. If you are not saying it, congratulations. You are talking against the tide.

Sometimes this sort of thing is called “verbal punctuation,’’ as with “ah’’ or “uh’’ or “um.’’ Dr. Scribblerscold’s high school English teacher employed a unique form of verbal punctuation. She said “awa’’ nearly every time she paused in her lectures. For example: “William Wordsworth wrote — awa — ‘The World Is Too Much with Us.’’’

These expressions don’t mean anything. They are dropped into speech, almost haphazardly, just as “you know’’ or “I mean’’ or “like’’ (as in “Like, you know what I mean?) generally are used mindlessly and endlessly in colloquial speech.

“Yeah-yeah’’ differs a bit because it sometimes seems to mean something. It may have more in common with “uh-huh”: an indication of agreement with what is being said.

Some people characterize all of these constructions as “filler phrases.’’ That’s too passive. “Yeah-yeah’’ and the other forms of “verbal punctuation’’ should be treated the same as commas or semicolons or other written punctuation marks when they are unnecessary or out of place.

“Yeah-yeah’’ is verbal litter. Take out the trash.

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Lay it down

While Dr. Scribblerscold is playing language purist, here is a plea this column has not made for many years. Why do so many people use “lay’’ when they mean “lie,” as in “Go lay down and think about this problem until your head hurts.’’

Unlike saying “yeah-yeah,’’ which is one of the more innocent irrelevancies to enter the language, confusing “lay’’ with “lie’’ is grammatical heresy.

Nevertheless, people have confused lay and lie for centuries and probably will continue to do so in everyday speech until their tongues are tied.

Enduring “go lay down’’ verbally is one thing, but Dr. Scribblerscold has read the incorrect use of “lay’’ in scholarly publications. That’s pure sloppiness.

The internet is crammed with sites explaining the difference between “lie’’ and “lay.’’ One site puts it very simply: “The key thing is lie does not take a direct object. Lay always does.’’ Lie down on a bed. Lay a wreath on a grave.

But other sites say it doesn’t matter. As a way of proving it doesn’t matter, Google Bard, an online AI program, provides a different answer depending on what you feed it.

Ask Bard, “Is it OK to say ‘lay’ instead of ‘lie’?’’ and you will get: “In informal speech, it’s quite common to hear ‘lay’’ used instead of ‘lie’ in the context of being in a flat position. While technically incorrect, it’s generally understood and accepted. However, in formal writing and speaking, it’s best to stick to the technically correct usage of ‘lie.’’’

But tell Bard, “I want to lay down’’ and the program agrees “laying down can be a simple yet luxurious way to unwind and recharge.’’ No grammatical lecture.

Perhaps that’s better. Some readers are probably wishing Dr. Scribblerscold would lay down his pen and unwind. Yeah-yeah.

Jack Brubaker, retired from the LNP staff, writes “The Scribbler’’ column every Sunday. He welcomes comments and contributions at scribblerlnp@gmail.com.