What term refers to language used by speakers to avoid frequent pauses, to hold the floor, or gain thinking time?

• A. Discourse fillers
• B. Filler words
• C. Back-channelling
• D. Pad words

Answer: (A)

This question tests how speakers manage pauses and keep the floor by using filler language. The best term is discourse fillers, which covers the use of any words or sounds that fill gaps in speech to buy thinking time or signal you’re not finished speaking. Examples include sounds like um and ah, as well as phrases like you know or like. This broad category describes the speaker’s strategy for smoothing turn-taking and preventing awkward pauses.

Filler words refer to specific lexical items used as fillers, but discourse fillers is the wider, more accurate umbrella term for both words and sounds used to fill pauses. Back-channelling is when the listener responds to show understanding or encouragement (like uh-huh), not something the speaker uses to buy time. Pad words isn’t a standard term in this area.