I’ve spoken over

[Maybo]

What does "I've spoken over" mean?

And in bouts of impatience during work conversations, I’ve spoken over or finished the sentences of colleagues who are more hesitant.


(The pervasive problem of 'linguistic racism by Christine Ro)

 

[GoesStation]

It's a parallel construction. Does this shorter sentence make sense? I’ve spoken over the sentences of colleagues.

 

[Maybo]

It's a parallel construction. Does this shorter sentence make sense? I’ve spoken over the sentences of colleagues.

Does it mean "I've said the sentences of colleagues"?

 

[GoesStation]

Does it mean "I've said the sentences of colleagues"?

Good guess, but no. It means "I've raised my voice and drowned out what my colleagues were trying to say." "Over" means "at a higher volume" here.

 

[jutfrank]

The phrase 'to speak over someone' doesn't only mean to speak at a higher volume. It sometimes carries the idea (as it does here) of interrupting someone.