I’ve recently realised how I make use TONS of filler words – when speaking in English (I’m bilingual), my speech is FILLED with innumerable ‘like’s and ‘you know’s. I literally realised it after telling FIVE ‘YOU KNOW’S to my brother in a row because I was unable to express how I felt about something. It almost makes my sentences look like freaking patchwork hanging together by loose threads.
I also have a habit of switching between my native and the English language while speaking. I can’t express myself in my native language without making use of English words in between. Similarly, while speaking English it usually takes me some effort to find apt words for the thought I’m trying to convey because I’m habituated to alternating between the two. Add to it the fact that my voice is too soft, and I’m almost always asked to repeat myself.
To summarise , I really want to change my speech patterns in the following ways:
1. Not speak pieces of sentences but full, coherent and well-formed sentences.
2. STOP USING FILLER WORDS arghh
3. I want to better my everyday vocabulary but I don’t know how one goes about doing that. Do people practice with themselves in the mirror? Do they read more books? HOW can I make use of more sophisticated language in speech?
4. I want to speak slower. Talking at a slower pace makes me anxious about being cut off, or that I’m taking up too much time and I almost always end up rushing through my speech, only to be asked to repeat what I just said.
I don’t go out much and no one in my home is interested in conversing with me in English, so I’m afraid I might actually have to speak to my mirror version. Does that work? Or will I have to chew my poor sister’s ears off?
I hope this is the right sub for this query. If not, please suggest the right one! Thank you