My Idiolect

When has one ever had to step away from oneself and take a good look? Well, almost every day! But, to study one’s idiolect is quite a difficult concept to grasp. After thinking about the way I talk for a few moments I realised there are many a thing which make me, me!

For one, I pause a lot during conversation, when I can’t quite figure out what I’m going to say next. Which sounds perfectly harmless. But, when I feel the need to fill theses silences with words such as “like” or even mere sounds like, “uhh…” It can come across a rather idiotic or foolish.

Secondly, to add to this so called “vibe”, an adjective which I use, completely out of context in comparison to its definition is, insane. I may say, after seeing a particularly good film with my friends, “that movie was insane! Did you guys see Robert Downey Jr.?” (With slight emphasis on the “see”). Now, to take the actual English definition of that word and to use it instead. I would be saying something along the lines of this: “Hey guys! That movie was so good. I now feel like I’m in a state of mind which prevents normal perception, behaviour AND social interaction! How great?”. When in retrospect, I had seen iron man, that statement is somewhat embarrassing, to say the least.

I think that when people answer the phone, the types of words they use create an instant impression. There are certain types of “phone answers” which many people use.  So, in my circumstances where I would answer the phone with a teenager-tainted “Hello?”, where I obviously sound “joyous” to be put through the hardship of actually finding and picking up the phone. Someone would see me as the stereotypical teenager, which I would like to try and avoid.

My conversational habits, in my opinion are subtle. I will nod along, without realising, and ask questions- a fabulous listener! However, I do have a mind which thinks non-stop, so I have been one to occasionally come out with comments which have nothing to do with the matter being discussed. For example if my friends and I are discussing say, homework, I could come up with an elaborate scheme in my head as to why a homework had not been completed. Hence my friends confused faces when in reply to, “How did you find the history essay?” I say, “Its funny cause if I did have a pig it would have been easy. But ide need more space for it to roam free, you know?” Now, this I believe could become very irritating. But, I’ve learnt that habits are difficult to crush. And so I believe that at least a small part of my idiolect has been, and will be, with me for my entire life…