everything's just sort of in hibernation almost

[GoodTaste]

I don't understand the use of "almost" here. If you meant "just sort of in hibernation", then it couldn't be "almost in hibernation". Does it reflect that the speaker's state of mind varies from "just sort of in hibernation" and "almost in hibernation"? He's just hesitating, unsure to use which one to express his feelings... I am not sure.

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The speaker, a high school senior, on the video says:" Well, as of right now, everything's just sort of in hibernation almost, so it doesn't feel like the real world I imagined."

Source: USAToday June 16, 2020
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...espite-warnings-trump-meatpackers/3198259001/

 

[jutfrank]

The link directs me to an article about meat shortages.

 

[GoesStation]

He's talking about the general situation. Does that help?

 

[GoodTaste]

He's talking about the general situation. Does that help?

Sorry I am still not sure.

Does "sort" here mean "type"?

 

[GoodTaste]

The link directs me to an article about meat shortages.

I clicked the link just now and found the video is still there (beneath the video runs the caption: Coronavirus Chronicles: Seniors uncertain about life after graduattion Because of the COVID-19 pandemic, high school seniors across the country are shifting their plans post graduation.

 

[jutfrank]

I clicked the link just now and found the video is still there (beneath the video runs the caption: Coronavirus Chronicles: Seniors uncertain about life ater graduattionBecause of the COVID-19 pandemic, high school seniors across the country are shifting their plans post graduation.

That's odd. I can't see a video anywhere on that page. Well, I'll go ahead and answer the question anyway.

As I understand it, both phrases sort of and almost are instances of hedging language, which is a very common feature of the speech of younger, less confident speakers.

The student uses these phrases as a way to hedge his/her own use of the metaphor of hibernation. It's as if he/she is saying "Things are not literally in hibernation, but that seems to me to be a suitable metaphor to describe my impression of the situation."

 

[GoodTaste]

That's odd. I can't see a video anywhere on that page. Well, I'll go ahead and answer the question anyway.

Neither the video nor those words appear whwn I go to the linked page.

It is possible that USAToday's filter works that way: Your IP address triggers the filter.

 

[GoesStation]

Sorry I am still not sure.

Does "sort" here mean "type"?

The phrase is "sort of". It's a hedge phrase, as jutfrank points out. It is, I think, a sentence adverb. The speaker means "I might describe the situation as being 'in hibernation'."