| View previous topic :: View next topic |
| Author |
Message |
Mikealicious
Joined: 09 Nov 2009
|
 Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:33 pm Post subject: How are you? So so. |
 |
|
When posed with the question 'How are you?' or equivalent, is 'So so' an authentic answer in any English-speaking countries?
I would like to rid my classrooms of this answer, but first I just want confirmation that this isn't a legitimate reply anywhere. I'm from England by the way, and I've never ever heard anyone ever give that answer.
Cheers.
Last edited by Mikealicious on Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:42 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
 |
irishcailin
Joined: 23 Feb 2010
Location: Wandering aimlessly around La Festa!
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:38 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Dont the french say something like that too?
Comme-ci Comme-ca?? So-So!
Or maybe i dreamt that in french class? |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jmuns
Joined: 09 Sep 2009
Location: earth
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:45 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| some people use it in america |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Patrick Bateman
Joined: 21 Apr 2009
Location: Lost in Translation
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:47 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| irishcailin wrote: |
Dont the french say something like that too?
Comme-ci Comme-ca?? So-So!
Or maybe i dreamt that in french class? |
No, you are right. If I remember correctly it translates roughly into "like this like that." Though French was my worst subject.
So-So is an accepted answer in America, but isn't used to the extent that it is in Korea. It's basically equivelent to saying that you are indifferent; not good enough to say so, but not really complaining either.
Last edited by Patrick Bateman on Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:54 pm; edited 1 time in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
.38 Special
Joined: 08 Jul 2009
Location: Pennsylvania
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:48 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| irishcailin wrote: |
Dont the french say something like that too?
Comme-ci Comme-ca?? So-So!
Or maybe i dreamt that in french class? |
Oui, c'est vrai.
So-so is a legitimate response here Stateside.
So-so is to "all right" as "how do you do?" is to "how are you?"
If they are abusing the so-so, then by all means wean them from it. When I was a French student I comme ci'd comme ca'd a lot because it was the quickest and most neutral to tongue when placed on the spot. You would not be lying at all if you told them that so-so is quaint and quite untrendy.  |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Cerberus
Joined: 29 Oct 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:52 pm Post subject: Re: How are you? So so. |
|
|
| Mikealicious wrote: |
When posed with the question 'How are you?' or equivalent, is 'So so' an authentic answer in any English-speaking countries?
I would like to rid my classrooms of this answer, but first I just want confirmation that this isn't a legitimate reply anywhere. I'm from England by the way, and I've never ever heard anyone ever give that answer.
Cheers. |
it's rather rarely used.
but, by the same token, how are you isn't used that often either.
With friends,.acquaintances you'd use what's up... how's life? what's new.
in a more formal setting - how have you been?
it's SO "textbook" -  though I understand why
so- so would be an acceptable answer, though you must understand that most of the time "how are you" is just a perfunctory pleasantry and nobody gives a rat's behind how you really are.
You're expected to say fine thank you and you.. or other such nonsense also taught in the textbooks 
(it's different if you meet a friend you haven't seen for a long time and then they DO mean it)
if you're keen on eliminating it, I'd suggest using "I'm ok", which conveys approximately the same meaning but would be FAR more practical/common. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mikealicious
Joined: 09 Nov 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:58 pm Post subject: |
|
|
Okay, well so long as there's some basis for its existence I'll stop grimacing when I hear it. I think weaning them from it may be the best course of action.
I'll be a conscientious teacher and not teach the classic super tight English answer 'Not bad'. Heh or 'Can't complain.'
Last edited by Mikealicious on Wed Mar 03, 2010 11:01 pm; edited 2 times in total |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Banana_Man
Joined: 01 Mar 2010
Location: Busan
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 10:59 pm Post subject: |
|
|
| I'm British, not English though (Scottish) and have to say that I am and have always been an avid fan of so-so. Think it may well be the only thing I said to my parents during THAT time. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Mikealicious
Joined: 09 Nov 2009
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 11:09 pm Post subject: Re: How are you? So so. |
|
|
| Quote: |
but, by the same token, how are you isn't used that often either.
With friends,.acquaintances you'd use what's up... how's life? what's new.
|
With friends in England, it's usually just 'Alright?..'Alright'. Probably won't be teaching that particular nuance either. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Kaypea
Joined: 09 Oct 2008
|
| Posted: Wed Mar 03, 2010 11:13 pm Post subject: |
|
|
I have gotten some of my students to actually say "not bad" or "ok" instead of "so-so". I like it so much better, it sounds so much more natural 
I'm Canadian. People don't tend to say "so-so" often, and teenagers only say it if they're really FOB... from Korea. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
kyopoopa
Joined: 28 Feb 2010
Location: west coast
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 2:31 am Post subject: Re: How are you? So so. |
|
|
| Cerberus wrote: |
| Mikealicious wrote: |
When posed with the question 'How are you?' or equivalent, is 'So so' an authentic answer in any English-speaking countries?
I would like to rid my classrooms of this answer, but first I just want confirmation that this isn't a legitimate reply anywhere. I'm from England by the way, and I've never ever heard anyone ever give that answer.
Cheers. |
it's rather rarely used.
but, by the same token, how are you isn't used that often either.
With friends,.acquaintances you'd use what's up... how's life? what's new.
in a more formal setting - how have you been?
it's SO "textbook" - though I understand why
so- so would be an acceptable answer, though you must understand that most of the time "how are you" is just a perfunctory pleasantry and nobody gives a rat's behind how you really are.
You're expected to say fine thank you and you.. or other such nonsense also taught in the textbooks
(it's different if you meet a friend you haven't seen for a long time and then they DO mean it)
if you're keen on eliminating it, I'd suggest using "I'm ok", which conveys approximately the same meaning but would be FAR more practical/common. |
Bingo!
If asked by a friend that would be an okay response. Would not recommend it for some person you just met or in a formal setting. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
KevinLS
Joined: 23 Oct 2009
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 6:54 am Post subject: |
|
|
I always think so-so seems like an awkward answer as it isn't really that common.
It's really made me question the asi-asi I learned in ninth grade Spanish 1. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
jvalmer
Joined: 06 Jun 2003
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 7:57 am Post subject: |
|
|
I think "so-so" is a common answer to "How are you?"
But like someone said, nobody really asks you "How are you?" |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
Old Gil
Joined: 26 Sep 2009
Location: Got out! olleh!
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 8:04 am Post subject: |
|
|
What? People say "how are you" all the time, at least where i'm from.
People rarely say 'so-so' as a response though. It occurs, but much less frequently that "not bad" "ok" or "alright". It's definitely 4th. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
pangaea
Joined: 20 Dec 2007
|
| Posted: Thu Mar 04, 2010 9:27 am Post subject: |
|
|
| I've never heard anyone say "so-so" in response to "How are you?" I think it sounds really strange and awkward and I'm not sure why it is in textbooks in the first place. I guess it could be used in that context, but rarely. I think it's more commonly used in reference to the quality of something else, as in, "How was the food at the restaurant?" - "Eh, so-so." Just my take on it. |
|
| Back to top |
|
|
|
FAQ
Search
Memberlist
Usergroups
Register
Profile
Log in to check your private messages
Log in
