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Language - A Case for, Like, Like; or, I Was All Like...

So, like, some might call be a nerd or stickler when it comes to language - more specifically, English. I always attempt to enunciate syllables, say "for whom," not use ain't, etc... I have a great care for the language, despite it's frequent inanities.

That being said, vernacular English is totally different. Like, an entirely different ball game sometimes. I can take liberties in speech that I would never consider in casual writing, let alone academic. But sometimes, I have to look at myself and say, "Like, whatever man!"

Alright, the gag's getting old, but I'm talking about "like" here. In formal English, it operates in a multitude of ways, from "I like Chrono Trigger a lot!" to "It is like Back to the Future, but with a talking frog," or even "It seems like a game that more people should be playing." However, a very common usage is as a replacement for "said." Wikipedia calls this a "colloquial quotative." (Wow. Such research. Very brains.)

"So, he was like 'Don't leave, Arin. Arin!!!'"

For the longest time, something like (heh) that would bug me to no end. However, the more I think about it, this is a pretty good usage of the word. Allow me to make my case:

First, in writing and speaking, it is important to vary the words that you use in sentences. Constantly using the word "said" in dialogue will tax on the reader or listener, and even the speaker to some extent. The word will lose its special meaning and just become a jumble of sounds. Although this might be the weakest of my arguments, "like" is another way to vary word usage. Outside of any serious writing, it can be effectively employed in both character dialogue and speech.

Second, it's vernacular. We use "shorthand" and other expressions in speech that would never fly in actual writing, whether formal or informal. "Should have" becomes "should of." "The" becomes "Tha". "I don't want to" becomes "Idunwanna" And many, many more.

A third possible justification of "like" is that language changes. "Suspicious" can mean both the person who is doing the suspecting, and the person who is in the state of being suspicious. I was suspicious of the suspicious person." The conjunction "and" used to act like "if!" Regardless of how I feel about it, the range of uses of "like" is growing.

Anyway, we said that "like" is a good shorthand that we can use, instead of having to say "And she said is in this manner." My fourth reason for not hating "like" is that it carries a broader connotation than "said" ever could. In oral narration, it can show not only what the person said, but also their tone, their actions, their mannerisms, and even the speaker's opinion of said person.

Now, I'm not saying it's good to use in even the least formal of writing. However, it's use as a "colloquial quotative" lends it more meaning than even its users are aware of. In a world where even Shakespeare used "ain't," it's only fair to give "like" a fair shake.

And I was like, "It's OK to use like and like it! Just don't use it twice in a row or you'll lose your shield."