Renowned author Louis de Bernières, best known for 'Captain Corelli's Mandolin', has launched a passionate critique against what he labels 'junk speech', pinpointing the pervasive use of filler words such as 'like' as a significant national annoyance. Writing from his home in the Norfolk countryside, de Bernières draws a parallel between this 'verbal littering' and the physical litter he observes in his local lanes, often originating from fast-food outlets.
De Bernières attributes his strong aversion to imprecise language, which he terms 'misosaskopeslexis' (a word he admits to coining from Greek, meaning 'hatred of pointless words'), to his classical humanist education. He recounts being taught the meticulous construction of sentences and coherent thought, contrasting this with what he perceives as a contemporary trend towards lax speech. He observes that while in the 1960s and 70s, a transatlantic accent with its own distinct slang was fashionable, today's prevailing 'Thames corridor accent' – which he describes as 'pure Essex' – is characterised by glottal stops and a lack of regional flavour.
The author expresses particular exasperation with the fashion for 'larding one's speech with delays and interpolations', which he believes speakers use to project an image of being 'cool, relaxed, on trend and modest'. He recalls an incident with a sixth-form student whose excessive use of 'like' extended a five-second statement into five minutes, an experience he found both 'embarrassing and bewildering'.
De Bernières extends his criticism to public broadcasting, stating he can no longer listen to Radio 4. He suggests the station has been 'rejigged for younger people' who employ these speech patterns, making the listening experience feel like being 'hit repeatedly on the head' for fluent speakers like himself. He provocatively questions whether this 'junk speech' could be connected to the consumption of 'junk food' and the issue of rural littering.
While acknowledging 'like' as perhaps the most irritating of these grammatical fillers, even surpassing 'um' and 'er', de Bernières insists it is not the only culprit. He muses about wishing he could 'strike speechless all those who... waste everybody's time with their... contentless blether. And stuff. And shit,' highlighting a broader frustration with conversational redundancy.
This commentary from a prominent literary figure underscores a wider cultural discussion about language evolution, regional identity, and perceived declines in communication standards within the UK. His strong views reflect a sentiment shared by many who value precision and clarity in spoken and written English.
Source: Louis de Bernières