hésitants

Hésitants is a term used in linguistics to designate the phenomenon of hesitation in spontaneous speech. The plural form refers to markers that speakers use to pause, reformulate, or plan what to say, including filled pauses, silent gaps, and discourse markers. In French-language studies the term encompasses expressions such as euh, ben, alors, and similar devices, as well as nonverbal pauses.

Hésitants serve multiple functions in conversation. They can buy time for planning the next idea, signal processing difficulty, or manage turn-taking. They also function to soften statements, indicate uncertainty, or maintain politeness and solidarity with the listener. Depending on context, they may convey speaker confidence or hesitation about the content.

Variation in the use of hésitants is influenced by speaking style, formality, topic, and social factors such as age, education, and bilingual background. Informal settings often exhibit more hesitations, while highly structured or formal contexts may show fewer. Some speakers use them strategically as part of a conversational rhythm, whereas others may display higher rates due to cognitive load or processing demands.

Study and measurement of hésitants involve conversational corpora, transcript annotation, and acoustic analysis. Researchers identify filler material, measure pause durations, and examine the distribution of hesitation markers across speakers, topics, and discourse segments. Cross-linguistic research compares hesitation phenomena to reveal universal patterns and language-specific practices.

In broader terms, hesitation phenomena occur in many languages, each with its own repertoire of fillers and pause strategies. The study of hésitants contributes to understanding turn-taking, communication strategies, and the cognitive processes underlying spontaneous speech.