Use Vague Expressions

Summary

In this educational video, Olesya teaches the importance of vague language in spoken English. She illustrates how expressions like 'kind of', 'things like that', and 'and so on' are used daily for imprecise communication. Examples from daily life, such as planning events or describing preferences, demonstrate the practicality of vague language. The video encourages viewers to practice these expressions to enhance their fluency and understanding of English.

Takeaways

• 😀 The channel's goal is to help viewers understand and speak English fluently.
• 📅 New videos are uploaded every Friday.
• 🔔 Encouragement to subscribe and follow on Instagram and Facebook for daily updates.
• 🗣️ Vague language is a common part of spoken English, used to convey imprecision.
• 🗣️ Examples of vague language include phrases like 'around 5', 'kind of', and 'stuff like that'.
• 👂 Listening to conversations can help understand the use of vague expressions.
• 🏖️ Vague language is used to describe events, like the Sugar Sand Festival, without specifying details.
• 🍽️ It's common to use vague terms when discussing food options or what to bring to an event.
• 🛍️ The word 'thing' is often used vaguely to refer to unspecified objects.
• 🎶 Vague expressions like 'and so on' or 'and everything' are used to end lists without being exhaustive.
• ⏰ '-ish' is used to give a vague indication of time or to describe things approximately.
• 🔢 Vague terms like 'a lot', 'a few', and 'about' are used to express approximate quantities.
• 🌐 Vague language is used in everyday speech by diplomats, politicians, and regular people alike.
• 📚 The video encourages repeated viewing and practice of vague expressions for better English fluency.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of Olesya's channel?

The main purpose of Olesya's channel is to help viewers understand and speak English fluently.

When are new videos uploaded on Olesya's channel?

New videos are uploaded every Friday.

What is vague language according to the video?

Vague language refers to words or phrases that are not very exact or precise, used when the speaker does not want to provide specific details.

Can you give an example of vague language from the video?

One example from the video is: 'I'll be around 5,' which is a vague indication of time.

What does the phrase 'and stuff like that' imply in spoken English?

The phrase 'and stuff like that' is used when the speaker doesn't want to list all the items or give precise details.

How is '-ish' used to express vagueness in English?

The suffix '-ish' is added to words like numbers or colors to give a vague approximation, such as 'six-ish' or 'reddish.'

What vague expressions can you use when discussing quantities?

Expressions like 'a few,' 'plenty of,' 'loads of,' and 'about' are used to give a vague idea of quantity.

What is the difference between 'kind of' and 'sort of'?

'Kind of' and 'sort of' are both used to express partial agreement or when something is not completely certain. In casual speech, they might be shortened to 'kinda' or 'sorta.'

Why do speakers use vague language in conversations?

Speakers use vague language to avoid giving precise details, either because they don't know them or because it's unnecessary for the context. It also makes speech sound more casual and flexible.

What is an example of vague language used in time expressions from the video?

An example is the use of 'about' or '-ish' to express approximate times, such as 'around six-ish.'

Outlines

00:00

🗣️ English Fluency and Vague Language

Olesya introduces her channel's mission to help viewers achieve English fluency with weekly videos, encouraging subscription and following on social media for daily updates. She explains the concept of vague language, which is common in spoken English and lacks precision. Examples include phrases like 'around 5', 'kind of', and 'stuff like that'. Vague language is used to avoid listing specifics, as seen in conversations about festivals, restaurants, and personal preferences. Olesya illustrates how 'thing', 'and everything', 'things like that', and 'stuff' are used to generalize without being exact.

05:07

📚 Vague Quantifiers and Approximations

This section delves into vague quantifiers like 'a few', 'a couple', 'plenty of', 'loads of', and 'a lot of', which are imprecise indicators of quantity. Olesya discusses the use of 'about', 'around', and '-ish' to convey approximate numbers and times, such as 'six-ish' for an uncertain hour. '-ish' is also used to describe physical traits or colors in a non-specific way. Adverbs like 'slightly', 'fairly', 'quite', and 'very' are highlighted for their frequent use in spoken English to convey varying degrees of an attribute. The expressions 'more or less', 'sort of', and 'kind of' are explained as ways to give non-committal answers, with 'sorta' and 'kinda' as colloquial alternatives. The paragraph concludes with a reminder that vague language is prevalent in everyday speech and suggests re-watching the video for practice.

12:49

👋 Signing Off and Engagement Invitation

In the closing paragraph, Olesya invites viewers to subscribe and follow the channel on Instagram and Facebook for more content. She signs off with a friendly 'see you soon', indicating the end of the video and looking forward to future interactions with her audience.

Keywords

💡Vague Language

Vague language refers to the use of words or phrases that are not specific or exact. In the video, it is described as an important part of spoken English, used to convey a general idea without being overly precise. For example, when someone says 'I'll be around 5,' it implies an approximate time rather than an exact one.

💡Fluent

Fluent refers to the ability to speak a language smoothly and effortlessly. The video's theme revolves around helping viewers become fluent in English, which suggests that the channel aims to improve listeners' conversational skills and ease of expression.

💡Subscribe

The term 'subscribe' is used in the context of following the channel for regular updates. It is a common term in digital media, encouraging viewers to commit to receiving new content, which in this case, is aimed at improving English language skills.

💡Expressions

Expressions in this context refer to idiomatic phrases or colloquial ways of saying things in English. The video discusses vague expressions, which are a type of English expression that conveys an idea in a non-specific manner, such as 'kind of' or 'and so on'.

💡Sugar Sand Festival

The Sugar Sand Festival is used as an example in the script to illustrate the use of vague language. It is described as a festival with various activities, but the exact nature of the festival is kept vague to demonstrate how such events are discussed in everyday speech.

💡Approximately

Approximately is used to indicate that something is about the right amount or number, but not exactly. In the video, it is mentioned in the context of vague language, where 'around 5' is used to suggest a time that is not precise.

💡Landmarks

Landmarks are points of interest in a city or area, often of historical or cultural significance. The script uses landmarks in New York as an example of how vague language can be used to list a few items from a larger set, such as 'the Statue of Liberty, Central Park, and so on'.

💡Netflix

Netflix is mentioned as an example of a platform with a vast array of content, using vague language to describe the types of media available, such as 'movies, tv shows, documentaries, and everything'.

💡Politicians

Politicians are mentioned in the context of using vague language. It suggests that vague language is not only used in everyday speech but also in more formal or strategic communication, where precision might be intentionally avoided.

💡Diplomats

Similar to politicians, diplomats are mentioned to show that vague language is a tool used in professional and diplomatic contexts. It implies that the use of vague language can be a strategic choice to maintain flexibility or ambiguity in communication.

💡Practice

Practice is emphasized as a key method for improving English fluency. The video encourages viewers to practice using vague expressions, which aligns with the channel's goal of helping viewers speak English more naturally.

Highlights

Introduction to the channel and weekly video upload schedule

Encouragement to subscribe and follow on social media

Definition of vague language in spoken English

Explanation of how vague language is used daily

Example of vague language in a conversation about a festival

Use of 'thing' as a non-specific object in sentences

Examples of vague expressions like 'and everything' and 'things like that'

Suggestion to use 'and so on' instead of continuing a list

Usage of 'stuff' to refer to unnamed objects

Explanation of 'and so on' as a way to avoid listing all items

Use of 'Etc.' as an abbreviation for lists that are not finished

Examples of imprecise words like 'a few', 'plenty of', and 'a lot of'

Use of '-ish' to indicate a vague time or approximation

Examples of '-ish' used with colors and personal characteristics

Common vague expressions like 'slightly', 'fairly', 'quite', and 'very'

Explanation of 'more or less' as a vague expression

Use of 'sort of' and 'kind of' for non-committal responses

Recommendation to watch the video again and practice vague expressions

Closing remarks and reminder to subscribe and follow on social media

Transcripts

Hello! My name is Olesya. Welcome  to my channel! If you are new here,  

we upload a new video every week. We  do it every Friday. My goal is to help  

you understand and speak English fluently.  Don't forget to click that subscribe button  

and follow us on Instagram and Facebook,  where we post something new every day.  

Being vague is an important part of spoken  English. We use it every day. What is vague  

language? Vague language is words or phrases  that aren't very exact or precise. You may hear:  

I'll be around 5. Do you like coffee? Kind of.  Let's listen to the conversation and hear the  

vague expressions. Are you going to the Sugar  Sand Festival on Clearwater beach this weekend?  

I don't know it depends. What is it exactly? Well  it's a festival with free activities for all ages,  

including a children's play area street performers  sand sculpting classes and stuff like that.  

Everyone can get involved in something, you  know. What should I bring? Beach blankets,  

low-lying beach chairs, and things. I'm  not good at making sculptures, you know.

No worries! There is good food, you can get  all kinds of ice cream bottled water, soda,  

beer and wine and stuff like that are available  for purchase on-site. Will you go? Well, maybe...

There are two things I am not happy about. I  expect the meeting will be short we have only one  

or two things to discuss. In these two sentences  the word "thing" doesn't name the object. We just  

know that it exists. Okay, so here's the thing  I don't like your tone at all right now. I don't  

like any story, okay. Yeah! Here's the thing. In  this restaurant they cook a lot of good seafood,  

like: lobsters, oysters and everything. I  like different kinds of music: pop, rock,  

jazz and things like that. In this sentences,  "and everything" and "things like that"  

are used when we don't want to continue the list,  we don't want to name all seafood, or all kinds  

of music, Don't say! In the bakery you can buy,  bread, cupcakes, cakes, donuts, pies and bagels.  

Better to say! In the bakery you can buy bread,  cupcakes, donuts and things like that. Don't  

say! On Netflix, there are a lot of movies, tv  shows, documentaries, sport games and interviews.  

Better to say! On Netflix, there are a lot of  movies, tv shows, documentaries and everything.

There's loads of stuff in my closet. Do you want  to have a look and see if you need anything?

The word "stuff" refers to one or more objects.  

You don't want to name all the objects. " In  movies and stuff, you know. He's like, exactly!"

"And so on" is another vague expression  that we can use in our sentences.  

For example, I like reading books like:  "Romeo and Juliet", "Jane Eyre" and so on.

We need to buy some groceries, like:  sugar, bread, milk and so on. Again,  

I don't want to continue my list and  I use a vague expression "and so on".  

Don't say! In New York you can visit a  lot of landmarks the Statue of Liberty,  

Central Park, The Empire State Building, Times  Square and Brooklyn Bridge. Better to say!  

In New York you can visit a lot of landmarks:  the Statue of Liberty, Central Park and so on.  

Etc. is an abbreviation for a latin word et  cetera. We use it when we begin a phrase or a  

list and we will not finish it. Children should  eat only healthy food vegetable fruit etc.

Quite a few students pass the exams. all  the words, like: A few A couple, Plenty of,  

Loads of, A lot of are not exact. We use them,  when we talk about the amount of something or  

the number of something, and we are not precise.  Sometimes we just use: about, a round, at least.  

It's just a vague idea of a number. For example:  Yesterday I had about 20 students in my class.  

There are about 200 people outside.  It must be about 3 o'clock.

"one-ish" "two-ish", "six-ish" you can add  -ish to give a vague indication of time.  

I'll get home around six-ish or about  6, depending on the traffic. "One-ish",  

"two-ish" - Sounds weird, right? - Maybe,  but these are very typical expressions  

that Americans use in everyday  speech. When describing people  

you can use "-ish" again. You can use "-ish" with  colors or personal characteristics. For example,  

if you want to describe a friend with the red  hair, you can say: "His hair is kind of reddish".  

Or when you describe a person and you don't  remember what the person looks like. You can say:  

"He's kind of tallish". And again this  "-ish" is used just for spoken English.  

The words: such as: slightly, fairly, quite,  and very are widely used in the spoken language.  

some people are very clearly rich, and some people  are very clearly not rich, but some people are  

kinda sorta maybe rich. You can hear a  lot of vague expressions in this sentence.  

It is very hot today. It is quite cold today. It  was slightly windy yesterday. You are not quite  

tall enough to ride a rollercoaster.  This is one more vague expression:  

"more or less". Are you ready to go? More  or less. Are you done with the project?  

I think ,more or less. Again, you are not precise  about the situation, but you have an answer.  

It is sort of green / it is kind of green. Here  it means that the color is approximately green,  

something similar to green. When you don't want  to say "yes" or "no", you can use: sort of or kind  

of. Do you like your new teacher? Ah, kind of,  he's pretty good, but he gives a lot of homework.  

Did you like the new movie? Uh, sort of! It was a  bit slow. And one more thing that I want to add,  

that in spoken English you can hear not sort  of but "sorta", not kind of but "kinda".  

I'm kinda tired. You have to get some water. Put  inside the bottle. Shake it up! Good! Oh, okay,  

never mind. Vague language is actually  being used by diplomats and politicians,  

by regular people, like me and you  in everyday conversation. And I would  

recommend that you watch this video again  and again and practice vague expressions.

Thank you for watching! Don't forget to  click that subscribe button! And follow us  

on Instagram and Facebook! And see you soon!