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Vague Language in English Speech | PDF | Foreign Language Studies
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Vague Language in English Speech

The document discusses various types of vague language that fluent English speakers often use to sound more natural and speak more fluently without needing precise vocabulary. These include using "kind of/sort of", "or something like that", "a load of/a ton of", "about __ or so", and rounding numbers when telling time. Examples are provided for each type of vague language.

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344 views7 pages

Vague Language in English Speech

The document discusses various types of vague language that fluent English speakers often use to sound more natural and speak more fluently without needing precise vocabulary. These include using "kind of/sort of", "or something like that", "a load of/a ton of", "about __ or so", and rounding numbers when telling time. Examples are provided for each type of vague language.

Uploaded by

Ana Mar Ro
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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VAGUE LANGUAGE

The word ‘vague’ means that something is not clear or detailed. In spoken, informal English,
fluent speakers often use vague language.
Using vague language will make your English sound more natural. It will
also make it easier to speak fluently, because you can communicate without
needing to use precise vocabulary.

◦ 1. KIND OF/ SORT OF.

EXAMPLE:
It's a sort of pale orange colour. (adjectives)

I guess I kind of forget to show her, sometimes, that I love her.(verb)


2. Or something like that
or anything like that
◦ EXAMPLES

She works for a bank or something.

Why don't you go to a movie or something?

We didn't fight or anything like that.


3. A LOAD OF/A TON OF
A WHOLE BUNCH
◦ EXAMPLES:
◦ There were loads of people standing around a TV set in the store.

◦ So we have a whole bunch of them at our museum.

◦ There's a ton of information on that fire hydrant.


4.About______ or so. (numbers or period
of time)
◦ EXAMPLES
◦ They raised  about two hundred dollars or so for charity.

◦ If you want to say that a number or time is not exact, but close, you can also use the phrase give or take
. Give or take is always used after the time or number, and usually at the end of the sentence.

◦ We're just leaving now, so we'll be there in ten minutes, give or take.
◦ The bill came to £600, give or take a couple of pounds.
A good example of vague language is
rounding up numbers when telling the time.
◦ EXAMPLE: 14:26.

-it is about half past two.


-It is almost half past two.
-It is half two-ish
- It is nearly half past two.
QUIZ

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