Fyllorden

Fyllorden is a Swedish and Norwegian term meaning "the filler words" or "fillers" used in spoken language to occupy time, organize discourse, or soften statements. The category includes short vocalizations such as eh, äh, um and uh, as well as lexical items used as pragmatic markers, for example liksom, typ, du vet (you know) in Scandinavian languages, and like, you know, well in English.

Linguistically, fylleorden are analyzed as two related phenomena: filled pauses (non-lexical sounds that signal a pause while planning speech) and discourse markers (lexical items that structure conversation, manage turn-taking, or index stance). Both types can signal cognitive load, hesitation, or a speaker’s intention to hold the floor while searching for words.

Functions attributed to fylleorden include facilitating speech planning, indicating uncertainty, marking topic shifts, softening requests or claims, and coordinating interaction. Their use varies by context: they are more common in casual conversation and less common in prepared formal speech, though some discourse markers serve important pragmatic roles in all registers.

Attitudes toward fylleorden are often negative in prescriptive settings, where they are associated with unpreparedness or poor articulation. In sociolinguistic and psycholinguistic research they are treated as meaningful elements of communication that reveal real-time processing and social signaling. Language teaching and public-speaking training sometimes address reduction strategies, while speech therapy and communication coaching may focus on managing their frequency and function.