Linguist Nick Enfield joins us to discuss ways that humans collaborate during a conversation, from turn-taking with split-second timing to using continuers to encourage a speaker. He also explains how filler words like "um" and "uh" can serve as traffic signals and how a listener can help or derail a storyteller. We also discuss how nuances of conversation reveal relationships and the subtleties of the communication taking place under the surface. Finally, Nick elaborates on how language can be viewed as a tool to form associations and how that might help us understand the current state of public discourse. All fascinating stuff if you're interested in language and humans.

Nick's book that we discuss:
https://bookshop.org/books/how-we-talk-the-inner-workings-of-conversation/9780465059942

Nick's website:
http://nickenfield.org/

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