The 180

Like, the kids aren't to blame for saying 'like' too much

As hard as it might, like, be to believe, using the word 'like' in conversation and often for varying reasons isn't that new. The CBC's Lisa Johnson explains.
The verb 'to like' isn't that complicated, but as CBC reporter Lisa Johnson discovered, many of the other uses of the little word are misunderstood and unfairly maligned. (Shutterstock)

Remember this? 

Frank Zappa's 1982 song Valley Girl, featuring his then 14-year-old daughter Moon Unit was meant as a parody of the style of speech among Valley Girls - teen residents of California's San Fernando Valley.

One of the most prominent features of so-called 'Valley speak' is the gratuitous usage of the word like. 

Talk to anyone these days and it seems as if like' is everywhere, but as the CBC's Lisa Johnson found out, it turns out people have been speaking like that for years.