>>I think there is a difference between something like Spanglish and the addition of "like" or "you know" to speaking. In fact, those words are simply a way of saying "um," of holding the floor longer. If you listen to people give speeches, only the best speakers will totally avoid using audible pauses. "Like" and "you know" and the other fillers serve that purpose.

>It bugs me the way .... er politicians ... er speak in this ... er pause-staccato manner. Is that .... er what you mean?

A skilled politician has a rich vocabulary of phrases which help him express zero content very verbosely. If you hear such a staccato, the guy's out of his league.