We get a lot of feedback about the show from you.

Often those messages critique how we and our guests sound on air.

I notice very often the use of, I mean like, like, I mean in front of every other sentence.

I mean people say, um, and, uh, too often it just distracts the listener or distracts me at least from what the speakers trying to communicate.

The expression, you know what I mean? You know what I mean? Blah blah blah blah.

You know what I mean when people say that over and over again, I just want to leave.

Uh, it's very annoying. And there I said, uh,

groups with less power, including women, people of color and the young develop their own language patterns to distinguish themselves and their community.

And eventually those habits tend to catch on and become normalized.

But we've been taught since grade school that there's a right and a wrong way to talk.

But who makes those rules and why?

We dig into that after the break. I'm Jen White.

You're listening to the 1A podcast where we get to the heart of the story.

We'll be back with more in just a moment.

Let's get into the conversation.

Today's guest is a socio-lingualist who wants to challenge our assumptions about speech.

She says there's much more value, meaning and history behind our ums,

likes and you means than we likely expect.

Valerie Friedland is a professor of linguistics at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Her new book is called, like literally dude,

arguing for the good and bad English. Professor Friedland, welcome to 1A.

Thank you. I'm so excited to be here.

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