[tinyowl]

Only fake liberal intellectuals use the 'sort of this' speech patter. Substitutes are 'kind of', 'sort of', 'this sort of' ... most commonly heard from guests on NPR. 'Really just' was the precursor, you still hear that too. Used by the same people who would criticize someone for using 'like' and 'you know.'

For example, you or I might say 'my father was happy' and they would say 'my father was this, sort of, happy soul.' But if you use it, you have to run it together and say it fast 'sort'f' and 'thisort'f', followed by a tiny but perceptable pause, followed by the brilliant adjective you are weakening by saying 'kind'f'.

I drives you batty once you latch onto it, but it's a sure sign of the enemy. It's sort'f'this ... 666.

Extra points if you raise the pitch like a valley girl at the end.

[sparklite2]

My brother, who was raised as Texan as I was, speaks with Valley girl uptalk. It makes me want to choke him.

[4Liberty]

“I can’t help but think that...” is another fav of npr chatty types. They also start sentences with the long drawn out, pensive “Sooo...” for some nervous-twitch reason. Wholly unoriginal, and apparently as addictive as the prior “you know” habit.