Filler words: Ja, how is it used in a particular sentence? I was watching the German film Eine Frau in Berlin and one of the women used the sentence, "Das ist ja interessant!" For this particular sentence, what is the effect of adding the "ja"? It sounds as if it hyperbolizes (for lack of a better word) the woman's interest in whatever she was responding to, sort of in the way one would talk to a small child. For example, if a child would bring you, say, a pretty rock they found outside and proudly showed it to you, you could say the same sentence in response, even though you may not find it as genuinely fascinating as the child. So is this word inserted in conversation to typically exaggerate something? I know there are always exceptions, but I hope this could clear this word up for me a bit. Let me know if I am wrong about my interpretation of this sentence/word as well. Thanks!