Summary:
Many of us have friends who habitually end sentences with the phrase “or, whatever.” The phrase typically hangs at the end of a sentence, suggesting that the speaker is not necessarily invested in the outcome or result. Others may answer a question with” “or “whatever, indicating that they are uninterested in the answer or conversation. The person might just as well say, “I don’t care about having the conversation with you or even an answer.”
Article:
Many seemingly casual expressions are used to defuse, deflect, and signal disinterest. However, these expressions can also degrade the quality of conversation. For instance, the phrase ‘I don’t care about the stone cold bitch, you know, what’s her name?’ can significantly alter the tone and quality of a conversation.
Our diverse speech habits, ranging from formal and semi-formal to conversational with slang, are not just a matter of personal preference. They are influenced by our national, regional, ethnic, and social status, and they significantly Impact the quality of our communication. It’s essential to appreciate and understand these linguistic differences, as they contribute to the richness of our communication. Some politicians have been guilty of adjusting their tone to match sector-specific language.
Others, having grown up in the lower socioeconomic echelon, follow their communities’ speech habits. Some words are even hard to understand.