The Power of Aphelic Words: Understanding Filler Words in Language

Aphelia is a term used in linguistics to describe a type of word that has no inherent meaning or function in a language. Aphelic words are often used as placeholders or filler words, and they can be found in many languages.
In English, examples of aphelic words include "um," "uh," and "you know." These words are often used as filler words to pause or signal the start of a new thought, but they do not have any inherent meaning or function. Other languages may have similar types of aphelic words that serve similar purposes.
Aphelia is a term that was coined by linguist William Labov in the 1970s, and it has since been widely adopted in the field of linguistics. Understanding the role of aphelic words in language can provide insight into how language works and how speakers use language to communicate.