What I think:
If you really know what you are talking about, that will come through to your listener or reader. There are topics on which I could declaim endlessly (or so it would seem!) and not have to hem and/or haw, or make stuff up.
On the other hand, ask me to write or speak about how nuclear fission works, or how digital music turns numbers into notes, or why the earth revolves, and I can't say much. In fact, my knowledge of the solar system is no minute as to fit into a thimble. I must have been out sick the day that was explained.
I bring this up because I saw a guy on television the other morning, and in virtually every sentence, he said, "Do you know what I'm saying?" or "You know what I mean?"
My problem is, I am quite a literal person, meaning that if you ask me a question, you will get an answer if I have one. So, saying "Do you know what I mean?" only slows matters down, because then I answer, "Yeah, so far so good" or "Not a clue" and it slows the conversation. Sometimes it slows it to a halt.
My fear is that the person who asks if I know what they are saying is not so sure of what they are saying at all, hence the need for reinforcement.
So here's a deal - you keep talking and I'll keep listening (or reading) and if I can't figure it out, you will be among the first to know. Proceed apace until I ask for clarification.
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