Know what I'm Sayin'?

[rockytriton]

This may sound kinda stupid but it's just something I was thinking about. I was watching this documentary on "hip hop" that was on HBO. I really thought it was funny how often many of them said "know what I'm sayin'?" or "know what I mean?" I actually started counting the times that I heard it. Then I noticed a pattern, and I think there really is a link between the number of times this phrase is said and the level of intelligence of the speaker.

 

For instance, one person, who had really stupid ideas and had nothing intelligent to say, would say "Know what I'm sayin'?" about 5 or 6 times per minute, just about after ever sentence. Then I would notice on someone who didn't really have much intelligent to say but did at least have some noticable level of intelligence would say it maybe 2 or 3 times per minute. I noticed this all the way up to people like Russel Simmons and others who are very intelligent people who didn't say this phrase at all in an entire conversation.

 

I haven't yet come up with some sort of mathematical algorithm for determining the IQ of the person by the frequency of using this phrase, but I think it would probably be something like: 120 - (time_said_per_minute * 10).

[InfiniteNow]

Yo... I heard dat! And dey was all like...

 

I've actually had a similar thought rockytriton, and have noticed something along these lines before myself. Never took the leap to associate it with intelligence though.

 

Best I could figure, it ("know what I'm sayin'?") was a means for garnering social support and acceptance... a way to fit in. Just a local lingo or dialect that allows people to be associated with a larger group and to do so while blending in more with the backround (kind of an unconscious tendency to be a human manifestation of noise, in the signal processing sense, not auditory). In most inner city cultures where this language seems to be used the most, saying the wrong thing to the wrong person, or even saying something that might just have confused them, could literally get you killed, regardless of your true intention.

 

Further, it unconsciously makes the person hearing the question try to associate more strongly with you. It literally causes them to try to "know what you're saying," motivated by an unconscious question to themselves at the point of perception, "Do I know what they are saying?" triggering all manner of other cascades of thought.

 

That's just my theory on it. If you come up with some math that sticks, let me know. What other phrases could we use to measure intelligence? Are their bonus points for anything?

 

 

:rainbow:

[rockytriton]

minus 2 points per every "yo", 4 points per every "ho", and 7 points per every reference to illegal drugs. Add 20 points for every grammatically correct sentence.

[bumab]

Like, ya know...

 

"Know what I'm sayin'" and "like" and "hear me" are all filler words. They just take up space in a conversation, allowing the speaker to get by with less content while still managing stay on TV. It's a way for lower vocabulary speakers to get by- "like" and several other... fun words can perform several functions in a sentence as well- noun, verb, identity marker.

 

know what i'm saying?

[Boerseun]

Oooooh - ya touchin' on a very good point here, brother. And also, as a bonus, one of my pet hates. Gettit? Know what I'm sayin'? Like... uh... yeah, man. Once. Wicked.

 

My personal theory is that these idiots indeed have nothing to say, at all. And they try to cover the fact by using the socially acceptable (well, acceptable in their sphere, at least) filler words. Interestingly, though, is that the 'hip-hop' culture (non-commercial, the culture that served as the initial well-spring for the commercial version thereof that came later) attracted all the losers at first. The kids who couldn't get anywhere in the 'system', ya know, 'cause them maths an' stuff's a bunch o' nerdy crap, ya know? It's like, what's with this 'x' an' 'y' stuff, ya know? Gettit? I mean, like, 'x' plus 'y' is something like, ya know, 'z', or sumtin'. Gettit? 'Cause I sure as hell, like, ya know, don't, my brother.

 

Hip-hop was unknowingly started as an assembly group, a peer-support group for people who rejected the 'system', because the 'system' was too intellectually demanding. It's easier to hang around in groups an' play basketball an' stuff and hang around, ya know.

 

So, indeed, I think you are on to something good and solid, here.

 

Like, I mean, this could be, like, huuuge, man.

 

Once.

[rockytriton]

The kids who couldn't get anywhere in the 'system', ya know, 'cause them maths an' stuff's a bunch o' nerdy crap, ya know? It's like, what's with this 'x' an' 'y' stuff, ya know? Gettit? I mean, like, 'x' plus 'y' is something like, ya know, 'z', or sumtin'. Gettit? 'Cause I sure as hell, like, ya know, don't, my brother.

 

yea, yo, I feel ya yo, know what I'm sayin'?

[ughaibu]

When I first came to Japan (1989) the use of a final 'ne' was very common. This 'ne' is along the lines of 'isn't it?' or even 'know what I'm saying?', it doesn't function just in asking for agreement from the listener but also suggests by association that the speaker is in agreement with the listener. These days the use of 'ne' as a socially smoothing adjunct is less common, it's most often used to suggest (and share) surprise. The previous role of 'ne' has been partially taken up by 'darou' which functions by suggesting uncertainty on the part of the speaker when imparting information that the listener may be unaware of, thus sharing any potential embarrassment caused by the listener's ignorance. Generally speaking all manner of finals that serve primarily to strengthen social bonds, appear to be on the decline in Japan. According to my wife, I'll trust her on this for the present, paralleling this decline in such finals there has been a fall in Japan's world ranking for overall literacy and average IQ. In view of this I think it would be premature to claim any simple relationship between the use of finals or fillers with any general concept of intelligence.

[InfiniteNow]

When I first came to Japan (1989) the use of a final 'ne' was very common.

<...>

In view of this I think it would be premature to claim any simple relationship between the use of finals or fillers with any general concept of intelligence.

Thanks ughaibu. It helps to consider the topic from the perspective of another culture, ne?. Really good points.

 

 

Cheers. :lol:

[TheBigDog]

The suburban analog of "you know what I'm sayin'" has got to be the incessant "OK?", or more guttural "K?" Always looking for unspoken approval that you are following the verbal line of thought. I had a coworker who "OK?"ed at a rate of about 10 per minute. I don't think he was stupid per say, just that he had such a misunderstanding of the reality he was surrounded by that he was always looking for validation that he was not way off base. He played it off that he was so much smarter than everyone else that he was always having to slow down to let people catch up with him.

 

Does the disclaimer of "I'm just keepin' it real" fit into the intelligence scale too? What the hell does that mean? "I live in a palatial estate now, but I keep crack whores around so my kids don't lose touch with their roots. I'm just keepin' it real, man."

 

Huh?

 

Bill

[InfiniteNow]

The suburban analog of "you know what I'm sayin'" has got to be the incessant "OK?", or more guttural "K?" Always looking for unspoken approval that you are following the verbal line of thought.

"Okay" is said to be the most universally understood and used phrase on the planet.

 

Does the disclaimer of "I'm just keepin' it real" fit into the intelligence scale too? What the hell does that mean?

Translation: The act of ensuring that one's current behavior and activity is within the realm of normal and socially accepted for that region and/or context. It is most commonly used as a statement of being, as well as a response to another party's request of how one is doing, or, more commonly, "What's up?"

 

See also: Urban Dictionary - Keeping it real

 

What the hell does that mean? "I live in a palatial estate now, but I keep crack whores around so my kids don't lose touch with their roots. I'm just keepin' it real, man."

 

Translation: I have a very large house, but my heritage and ancestors have tended to suffer financially. In order to ensure that my offspring do not disconnect with the social reality around them as a result of my current economic prowess, I ask drug addicted females who sell sexual favors to hang around as a reference point.

 

 

Word to all my peeps out there! Much love.

 

"WORD"

A versatile declaration, originating (more or less) in hip-hop culture.

 

"Word" has no single meaning, but is used to convey a casual sense of affirmation, acknowledgement, agreement, or to indicate that something has impressed you favorably.

 

Its usage among young blacks has been parodied ad nauseam among clueless suburban whites.

"Come on, man, we're going to the store."

"Word."

 

 

 

"PEEPS"

Short for "people." Used to address close friends or pals.

(also, marshmallow candies in the shape of rabbits and baby chickens. Usually served around Easter.)

 

 

 

"LOVE"

.

.

.

 

...well, I suppose we could have an entire forum and spend an entire lifetime in an attempt at definition of that one.

 

 

 

Cheers. :lol:

[TheBigDog]

I'm not talkin' 'bout "Okay" OK. OK?. I'm talkin' 'bout "OK?" OK? OK, like every sentence, can begin or end with OK. OK? Or, ok, like, "OK" can turn up in the middle of a sentence too. OK? Like, ok, did I forget to mention "like", like "OK's" other word that, ok, like makes "OK", like as meaningful of, like a word that it is? OK?

 

Infinite, thanks for givin' me my props and gettin my back and all dat. PEACE Y'ALL!

 

Bill

[rockytriton]

I know what you're talking about. People in the neighborhood I grew up in used to say that all the time, that and "right?", it was annoying... Ok, so I like went down to Mikes house, right? Then he said he was going to his girl's house, ok? And I was like, just give me a ride to the store, and he just left me hanging. So I walked all the way there, ok? And like.......

 

When I first moved there, I thought it was weird because where I grew up previous to that, we didn't use filler junk. I wasn't sure if I was supposed to response do the "right?" and "ok?", then I eventually learned that you just nod when someone says that.

[GAHD]

It's just the way people speak. Sometimes it's even more long lasting in certain cultures. I don't see the practice of turning a statement into a question as all that bad a thing, eh?

[InfiniteNow]

It's just the way people speak. Sometimes it's even more long lasting in certain cultures. I don't see the practice of turning a statement into a question as all that bad a thing, eh?

Here here!! I'll drink to that!

 

 

 

:beer::(:beer::dog::beer:

 

 

...Wait... was it "Beer before hard, puke in the yard. Hard before beer, you're in the clear?"

 

:hihi::beer::):beer::cocktail:

 

...or, "Liquor before beer, you're in the clear. Beer before liquor, never sicker?"

 

 

 

"By the time you realize you've drank too much, it's already too late my friend." --- Me at my old roomates 21st birthday a few years back.

[InfiniteNow]

Exp 1: Does the moth go into the fire? Begin.

[motherengine]

i had a friend who used to say "you know what i'm saying, you know what i mean?" alot. though her intelligence was hardy suspect. another question would be whether hip hop is a fundemental aspect of the process of integration in america. as a musician and an emotional creature i cannot say i have much respect for the movement but i am willing to accept the possibility that it is a light post on the road to a more racially harmonious human world. know what i mean?

[Boerseun]

Whatever cheeses your melon, brother man. Ya dig?