How do verbal/bodily fillers ease embarrassing situations during silences in conversations?

Abstract

In this study we analyzed the roles of verbal/bodily fillers for recovering from awkward silences in conversations. We focused on verbal fillers such as “ummm” and “uh,” and bodily fillers like “touching own hair or chin” that commonly emerge during silences between turns in conversations. We designed and created simulated dyadic-conversation scenarios using computer graphics characters, and then performed evaluations utilizing stimuli drawn from these simulations. Subjective evaluation results suggested that fillers express participants' sincerity in maintaining conversations and they can be used as clues for other participants to begin their utterances. These findings have practical implications for the behavioral design of conversational robots that can behave more appropriately and politely with humans.