"y'naw whar' ai mean!" How can I help my friend?

Question

My friend is one of these people who cannot finish a sentence without punctuating it with this spicy, "you know what I mean!" I suspect it is an acquired (not natural) speech pattern because it does not appear when my friend writes anything.

I am afraid it is becoming rather serious now.

But immediately the lips begin to flap, it is all "yu naw whar...ra i mean" in every sentence.

I'd not mind if there was no interview coming next month. Those panelists not used to the speech pattern may find it embarrassing having to say constantly, "No I dont know what you mean!" and might judge my friend unfairly!


Are there ways to help?

Answer 1

hahaha

oh dont worry so much, you're little friend just needs a little bit of realization, probably isnt even aware of doing it.
you need to tell him\her, [sorry you havent made the gender clear]
put him in the panelists position, and ask him questions , example

hey friend, imagine you were a panelist for an interview and this guy comes in and says "you know what i mean?" at the end of every sentence, would you really take him seriously?
now he'd be forced to realise what he's been doing, and that helps more then anything.tell him that if he indeed wants to make a good impression, then he has to break his acquired habit of adding one paticular repititive sentence after every thing he says. its really great that you're looking out for your friend and his interiew, it shows you care, and thats superb, but if you seriously want to get through to him and are concerned, then you must tell him, and if you butter him up and do it, i doubt it will work, tell him.
"friend, that thing you say, you know what i mean, it's damn annoying and if you dont stop it, then blah"
sometimes close friends need a good yelling at, it wakes them up, and its much better you doing it then someone else right, because that would just embarass him.
after he's agreed and is not in denial, because i'll be honest here, he probably will be angry with you, no matter how you confront him, try calmly, if that doesnt work, you're going to have to nail it in.every time you speak,notice what he says, stop him whenever he mentions you know what and tell him to rephrase, sooner or later he will definately lose the habit, and thats that, you'll help him marveously!

GOOD LUCK
Rave
p.s a month is a long time! so be positive, things will work out for him\her!

Answer 2

you're such a good friend to be concerned about this :)
hahah i think the best way is to constantly remind him, nag at him, annoy him to cut down the number of times he says it. then maybe after a while you could challenge him; if you don't say that in one entire day with me, i would ______ (treat you to dinner? you decide :D) and if you don't, you have to do that instead. ought to help and all the best for the interview!

Answer 3

yes tape him/her talking to you, and let him/her listen to it after wards.

Say you should work on you voice - listen, You Know what I mean? and leave them to work it out for themselves.

Answer 4

just TELL HER
if you are really her friend you'll tell her and explain it to her as you have to all of us out here.