Job Discussion Forums

[btsmrtfan]

So I have been wondering recently about the apparent obsession by far too many Americans starting virtually every spoken reply, statement or question with "so" and rarely any other word. So you see and hear this all the time and especially by supposedly well educated people. So how would you explain this? So do you think they are just being lazy? So could it be the lack of a well developed vocabulary from which to select words other than "so" and for which they would be applauded by their listeners?

So do you teach your ESL students to use "so" in the above manner? So if you do, why ?

So I am really looking forward to your comments.

So thanks and enjoy your day.

[Dream_Seller]

There was a study done on this..NPR Radio does this often. It makes it appear as if the person speaking is intellectual. It's rather annoying ....just listen to NPR and you will hear an interviewee answer with..."so...."

[btsmrtfan]

[nomad soul]

The article, So, When Did We Start Introducing Sentences with So, might interest you.

I'm in the US and don't notice an overuse of "so" to start a written or spoken statement. If anything, I often hear "look" at the beginning of spoken commentary, mainly from reporters, political pundits, and politicians to mean "pay attention" when clarifying or emphasizing what they feel is an important point. For example: "Look. The law was poorly written, which is why the public reacted with confusion and anger."

[MotherF]

So is a pragmatic particle, some people use it more often than others, and it is used in certain situations more often than others. They can be used to give time to think, or to insert an opinion or show empathy among other functions. It's my personal belief that so used in this way is much more common among Americans than other nationalities, but pragmatic particle use in general is wide spread around the globe. Overuse in a conversation probably shows nervousness on the part of the speaker. Just this morning I was listening to an interview of the British Journalist, Nina Lakhani. Listen to her use of you know. I found it extremely hard to listen to and even thought--who let this woman on the radio--but then I paused to reflect that she had reason to be nervous, she might have put her name on the very list she's reporting about by reporting about it.

https://www.democracynow.org/2017/3/3/part_2_expose_shows_environmental_activist

[danshengou]

I wouldn't go into too much detail like this with a class

Conjunction and adverb are the main two uses I would teach. The linguistics stuff is just a waste of time unless a student approaches you with a specific question about it, which is highly unlikely.

[mitsui]

I think it is the opposite. I hear it at the end of a sentence or a person is saying something then ends with "so..." and just stops talking.

Annoying, yes.

[btsmrtfan]

The "Soers" seem to be addicted to the repetitive, excessive and unimaginative use of this very poor English language crutch.

Not so long ago, I was watching one of the cable news networks and a talking head appeared that began his opening statement with his favorite two letter English language word. He then went on to answer three follow-up questions beginning each response again with the same two letter word being discussion here.

Why anyone would willingly choose to alienate and otherwise cause listeners to quickly lose interest in what he or she is saying is beyond me.

Hopefully, such usage is not being taught as acceptable and proper in ESL circles. Unfortunately, I fear it is already amongst us.

So sad, wouldn't you agree?

[taikibansei]

I agree, this ugly practice--which originated in British English--has sadly spread to the former colonies. The obvious and only solution is to ban Chaucer (who uses it), Shakespeare (who uses it), etc. etc. from all school reading lists, as well as immediately terminate any native English speaker who dares even to have dreams where the offending word begins a sentence.

While we're at it, I think we should also call for an immediate end to both language variation and language change. To be honest, and I know you'll agree, English hasn't been the same since the Norman conquest. We need to go back to our Anglo-Frisian roots and, uh, make English great again.

[btsmrtfan]

[santi84]

Why would you mention this to EFL students? I have yet to notice any ESL students pick it up, despite years of immersion exposure to the linguistic quirks of native speakers. I'm sure they'd love to become proficient enough adopt so into pragmatic usage, but it doesn't seem to take.

[CTravel32]

When my kids are talking a lot but start to quiet down, I might say: so, for today....

But I am trying to get rid of the habit. I do not do it as much as others, but still.

[getbehindthemule]

'Ok'... seems to be my one. I never realised that I used or overly used this at the beginning of sentances until some young students (Grade 2), in my small private class, pointed it out!

[currentaffairs]

'Like' at the beginning of a sentence is the one that grates for me.

[Wayland]

I've actually noticed a few of my more advanced students have picked this up. They're the type of student who are enamored with English pop culture, so they spend 90% of the free time watching various youtube or twitch channels. They pick up a lot of spoken English habits which they then put into their writing.

So it's definitely out there.