linguistic oddity

[gusl]

For the past year, I've been noticing a new phenomenon among English speakers: when pausing and thinking anxiously, they fill the pause by saying ch-chch-chch-ch... it's like they are singing a beat.
I interpret it as saying: "I don't wish to be interrupted, and will come back to you in just a moment", and can be used while thinking or while driving.

I have observed this in at least 25/M/Canadian, 30/F/Canadian, but I suspect it's widespread in the USA too.

Is this a new phenomenon?

Comments

[bluebear2.livejournal.com]

I haven't noticed it myself.

[surrey-sucks.livejournal.com]

Me neither.

[jgrafton]

I've never heard this before.

[theadana.livejournal.com]

I totally do this. Did it while I was a teacher to keep kids attention while getting info. Do it now, especially on the phone while looking something up. Seems recent, past few years or so.

[easwaran.livejournal.com]

I've never heard this.

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

You probably have... maybe you'd transcribe it differently, but honestly I can't think how. It seems like I hear it everyday now that I've noticed it. Today I heard a different rhythm "ch-ch-ch".

[easwaran.livejournal.com]

Is it more like the sound that is sometimes transcribed as "tsk-tsk" or "tut-tut"?

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

I think "too-too-too" is a common variant... I've never heard "tsk-tsk".

[spoonless.livejournal.com]

at first, i was going to say i had never heard of this, but now I'm thinking I kind of know what you mean. something kind of in between ch-ch-ch, and tuh-tuh-tuh

[easwaran.livejournal.com]

That sounds somewhat familiar, though I can't think of when the last time I noticed it might have been. I'll have to pay more attention to see if I notice it more. I don't know if it's a particularly recent development.

[glapaloopscap.livejournal.com]

I'm not sure I've heard anyone do this either, though I wouldn't be surprised if people are doing it. We have other, more common space-fillers already, like 'um' and 'ah', and I've heard a few creative ones before too (can't think what they were though). I think their purpose is as you say.

[gustavolacerda.livejournal.com]

"um" is so yesterday!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_wirehead_/]

i've never heard that. though i do have a coworker who actually says "la la la" when he's thinking of how to continue a sentence.