Not too long ago I attended a meeting at the pumpkin. It was about "values". What "values" exactly, I don't know. During my 15 years stay at the pumpkin I have learnt not to question anything obscure too deeply. The chubby and ruddy-faced young man with the crumpled and overwashed yellowing white business shirt, used the word "basically" forty times in 20 minutes. Yes. I counted. Each time there was any change in conversation, I was astonished again and again as everybody in the room used the adjective increasingly.

There was this so-called team leader I sparred with on several occasions. He had this annoying and pompous habit of lifting his head up whilst talking to me, and I, in turn, would look up his ski-jump nose. He would say in this halting/falsetto voice:

"well basically Michael..........."

I had to stop myself with almost supernatural force from interjecting and impersonating his whine with the following:

"Well fucken basically,Michael, I've worn my dick down to matchstick, and, basically, I'll be navel- gazing to stop myself from splashing my boots, when I basically piss"

The problem with the word basically, is that it's used too often.

It may help people who are not really confident in public speaking. Or, it could be somebody giving instructions to another, not fully convinced that what they are saying is correct.

It breaks any subject down to a vague summary. If your not sure, use basically.

So by omitting the word "basically" in coversation, you are making a point with firm conviction. I admit I sometimes say the wimpy word myself, noticing how easy it can be to slip up.

I find people who habitually use it have jobs in IT, technical or minor fields of expertise. The reason I hate this word is that it gives the false impression that the user of the word thinks they may be an authority or an expert on the subject they are talking about. Take notice next time you make conversation.

Do you find yourself using it ?

Are there many of your friends saying it frequently ?

In what association does the word come up, and can you relate it with the personality of it's user ?

These are questions I am asking myself all the time.

So that's it......basically.

Contact

home