Bad speaking habits. Just bad.

One of the new things I've picked up this past 1-2 months has been transcription. I've always had an ear for deciphering accents - American, British, Asians, Indians, ANZers - although I've definitely discovered some weaknesses, like African-American lingo. Meep.  Since young I've been told I speak too fast, and that's still a trait I have to consciously override at times.  Funnily enough, I seem to have a much more measured pace when using American English. Word.

I was fortunate to have a mentor-manager, who exemplified the use of pauses and also called me out on the use of too many ums.  So listening to others speak has been a wholly interesting exercise, as well as a reinforcement of sorts.

Out of 50 samples, I'd say:

• 28 would have, "um", "you know", "like" a  "really" preferred filler. 
• 12 would have preferred enders, like "right?", "you know?", "and, so.", "so yeah...".
• 4 would almost always use the same lilt, such that sentences sound like questions, or the sentences just don't end, trailing off... ... 
• 2 would have a combination of some or all of the above-mentioned habits. 
• 2 would sound like constant practice; a product of consistent, conscious efforts to eradicate all of the above (usually webinar speakers, podcasters, and the like).
• 1 was an example in the charisma of religious figures. 
• And finally, one very eloquent, natural speaker who did not use fillers, yet did not sound scripted nor practiced, and also did not cause listening fatigue. 

Wow. Just wow. Turns out talking is easy, but speaking well is really almost unheard of. (Ha ha, see the pun there?)