This paper presents findings from an experimental interview study exploring the usage of German hesitation markers by native speakers aged nineteen to thirty-one. With limited research on this topic, the study investigates factors influencing hesitation marker frequency, including gender, topic type (casual vs. non-casual), and speaker familiarity. Twenty-nine participants were interviewed on various prepared questions, followed by an online perception study assessing how hesitation markers influence perceived masculinity and potential professions.
Results indicate that males tend to use hesitation markers, such as "ähm," "öhm," "äh," and "öh," more frequently. Additionally, hesitation marker distribution is slightly higher for casual topics and when interacting with well-known friends. Pauses occur more with male speakers, non-casual topics, and distant speaker-interviewer proximity. Lengthened vowels, another hesitation marker, are more common among males, for casual topics, and with distant proximity.
The perception study supports the notion that the use of hesitation markers is perceived as less masculine. Ambiguities in the findings underscore the complexity of this linguistic phenomenon. This paper offers valuable insights into German hesitation markers, shedding light on their nuanced usage and the influence of gender, topic, and speaker familiarity. Readers intrigued by language and sociolinguistics will find this study a compelling exploration of communication patterns among German native speakers.
Table of Contents
1 Introduction
2 Methodology and Data
2.1 Participants
2.2 Procedure
2.3 Measures
2.3.1 Profile
2.3.2 Interviews
2.3.3 Transcription
2.3.4 Statistics
2.3.5 Perception Study
3 Analysis of Results
3.1 Hesitation Markers
3.2 Pauses and Lengthened Vowels
3.3 Correlation between Hesitation Markers and Lengthened Vowels
3.4 Perception Study
4 Discussion
4.1 Further Hesitation Markers
4.2 Perception Study
4.3 Ideas for Further Investigation
4.4 Critique
5 Conclusion
6 Works Cited
Research Objectives and Topics
This study investigates the usage, frequency, and distribution of German hesitation markers among native speakers aged 19 to 31. The primary objective is to analyze how sociolinguistic factors—specifically gender, topic complexity, and social proximity—influence the use of hesitation markers, pauses, and lengthened vowels in recorded interviews, while also examining the perception of these markers regarding speaker masculinity.
- Frequency and distribution of German hesitation markers (ähm, äh, öh, öhm)
- Impact of speaker gender and topic complexity (casual vs. non-casual)
- Role of social proximity between interviewer and interviewee
- Analysis of pauses and lengthened vowels as complementary hesitation phenomena
- Perceptual study on the association between hesitation markers and perceived masculinity
Excerpt from the Book
1 Introduction
In one view, [hesitation markers] are symptoms of certain problems in speaking. In a second view, they are non-linguistic signals for dealing with certain problems in speaking. And in a third view, they are linguistic signals – in particular, words of English. (Clark and Fox Tree 2002: 75; emphasis in original).
This short excerpt clearly marks that within the research field about hesitation phenomena, there are different ways of analyzing and interpreting hesitation markers. Moreover, there are competing views whether they should be analyzed as actual words or just “filled pauses” (Clark and Fox Tree 2002: 75). Based on a quantitative analysis of interviews about various casual and non-casual topics, four basic German hesitation markers can be distinguished, namely ähm, äh, öh and öhm. According to Wieling et al. (2015), these forms can be divided into two different categories, the UH and the UHM form, which are commonly used in Germanic languages: More precisely, “the UHM form [...] consists of a neutral vowel followed by a final labial nasal, [whereas] the UH form [...] consists of a neutral vowel in an open syllable.” (1). Moreover, hesitation markers are usually assigned to spoken speech and are characterized as being part of discourse particles, thereby, having primarily a pragmatic function. Indeed, a speaker’s attitude and stance can possibly be deduced by analyzing the position and occurrence of hesitation markers (Kerstin 2000: 256). More importantly, they tend to appear at the beginning of a sentence, thereby, a speaker may, for example, illustrate his or her uncertainty of proper wording and of how to structure or formulate his or her message to be conveyed (Kerstin 2000: 256; Clark and Fox Tree 2002: 75; Matras 2000: 515).
Summary of Chapters
1 Introduction: Provides an overview of existing research on hesitation phenomena and defines the scope of the present study in analyzing German hesitation markers.
2 Methodology and Data: Explains the recruitment of participants, the interview procedure used to collect spoken data, and the methods for transcribing and analyzing the results, including the perception study.
3 Analysis of Results: Presents the findings regarding the frequency of hesitation markers, focusing on gender differences, topic complexity, social proximity, and the use of pauses and lengthened vowels.
4 Discussion: Critically reflects on the findings, considering potential limitations such as sample size and the artificiality of the interview situation, and suggests avenues for future research.
5 Conclusion: Synthesizes the study results, confirming the influence of sociolinguistic factors on hesitation marker usage and highlighting the complex and ambiguous nature of gender perception in language.
6 Works Cited: Lists all academic sources and literature referenced throughout the paper.
Keywords
Hesitation markers, German linguistics, sociolinguistics, gender differences, spoken discourse, interview analysis, pauses, lengthened vowels, pragmatic function, topic complexity, priming effects, perception study, language variation, discourse particles, quantitative research.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
The study examines the usage, frequency, and distribution of common German hesitation markers (like ähm, äh, öh, öhm) and related phenomena such as pauses and lengthened vowels in spoken interviews.
Which sociolinguistic variables are central to the study?
The research primarily evaluates the impact of speaker gender, the complexity of the interview topic (casual vs. non-casual), and the social proximity between the interviewer and the interviewee.
What is the primary objective of this paper?
The main objective is to identify which sociolinguistic factors influence the distribution of hesitation markers and to determine through an online survey if these markers affect how a speaker's masculinity is perceived.
What research methodology was employed?
The researchers conducted twenty-nine quantitative, synchronic interviews and a subsequent online perception study, utilizing software like R for statistical significance testing and Studio One for editing audio samples.
What does the main body of the work cover?
The main body details the methodology, analyzes the correlation between hesitation markers and social factors, investigates pauses and lengthened vowels, and discusses the findings of the perception survey in relation to existing linguistic theories.
What are the characterizing keywords of the study?
Key terms include hesitation markers, sociolinguistics, German linguistics, spoken discourse, gender perception, and discourse analysis.
How does the social proximity of interview partners affect the results?
The study found that, while expectation suggested otherwise, the frequency of hesitation markers and other devices varies based on proximity, though statistical significance was not always achieved.
Why are the results of the perception study described as ambiguous?
The perception results were inconsistent because participants' assessments were often influenced by the content of the speakers' statements—such as political topics—rather than strictly by the frequency of hesitation markers used.
- Citation du texte
- Kim-Cheyenne Greiner (Auteur), 2015, The Use of German Hesitation Markers in Interviews, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/1440778
