Motley Moose – Archive

Since 2008 – Progress Through Politics

Just “So” Stories

No, this is not about the Rudyard Kipling book: instead, what I believe to be the word usage trend of the 21st Century (so far) after the jump …

I’m a bit slow on the uptake compared to many political junkies. I realized this because there have already been several essays written on a trend I’ve only noticed the past six months. And this relates to people being asked a question during an interview … yet instead of the first word of their response being “OK”, or “Yes” or “Ummm …” or – as in the case of Ronald Reagan – “Well …” … today the first word is “So”. At times it sounds natural, other times jarring … let me summarize what has been written, and you can draw your own conclusion.

Nearly four years ago in a New York Times OpEd, Anand Giridharadas pointed out that “So” was no longer content to appear in the middle of sentences: as a conjunction (i.e., a synonym for “therefore”), adverb or intensifier.

Many other writers linked to this story, with one even content-analyzing an NPR Science Friday extended reply … with several appearing as a traditional conjunction: “If you were looking at the star, you’d see the shadow of the planet, so we don’t actually see that planet”. Today’s trend – and about half of the uses of the word in that science Friday example – began a paragraph with “So” – and often with a pregnant pause that emphasizes the word.

Anand Giridharadas traced the etymology to computer programmers (in general), ones in Silicon Valley (in particular) and claimed by Microsoft employees (especially). He cites the book by Michael Lewis (of “Moneyball” and “Liar’s Poker” fame) entitled The New New Thing in 1999 where programmers – used to writing code of “if this, then that” – extended that to normal conversation (especially if English wasn’t their first language). Linguists suggest that accommodation takes place then, where the habits of successful people are adopted by others (whether consciously or not).

Is this a good thing? Essayist Denise Graveline thought it could be (“used correctly”, of course). She felt that it could suggest authority (coming from an expert), or it could suggest empathy towards the needs of your listener (“So it might be helpful to know that ..”). She also acknowledges it can be akin to an “ummm” … a pause to think, which is normal – but if used excessively, can be annoying.

Anand Giridharadas went on to contrast “Well” and “So” this way:

“Well” vacillates, “So” claims, is more certain.

“Well” suggests “I am still considering this”, “So” indicates a decision.

“Well” is open-ended, “So” is impatient (and will save time).

“Well” is about the speaker, “So” is directed towards the listener.

Ben Yagoda – who credits those at Microsoft (if they truly invented it) for their cleverness, yet is tired of the usage – offers-up their contrasts on four different types of opening words:

Uh or Um – “I didn’t really expect your question and am not sure how to answer it, so give me a minute”.

Well – “I didn’t expect the question, but I’ve got an answer and here it comes”.

Oh – “You have presented me some new information; I have absorbed it.”

So – “I understand the question and how it displays your incomplete knowledge of the subject” … and then tells what you need to know.

One essayist in the British publication The Spectator understands if it is used to allow more time to gather one’s thoughts (although considering it ungrammatical) – but otherwise is not only annoyed by the practice: he suspects that it has a more nefarious use, which he thinks is growing.

That would be to use “So” as a way to deflect tough questions, not necessarily to answer the question asked, but instead to say what the speaker wants to. (See Talk Shows, Sunday Morning). If it continues to grow, the silver lining he argues would be this:

As the technique grows in popularity, we will come to recognize it more easily. It will take on the status of Harrison Ford’s tests in Blade Runner, used to tell androids from humans. Hear someone start an answer with ‘So’, and you’ll know you’re about to be spoon-fed some pre-cooked PR-speak. A more sophisticated version of the old joke about knowing a politician is lying because his lips are moving.

Myself? Within reason, I think this is OK. I am a “Well” type myself, and as long as this is neither overdone, nor used as a spin doctor-tactic there is probably no harm. But, have at-it with your observations in the comments. It will be interesting to note how many of you will begin with … umm ….well … you-know-what.

Let’s close with a more traditional use of “So” as an intensifier:

Written by Roger McGuinn and Chris Hillman of The Byrds in 1966, So You Want To Be A Rock ‘N’ Roll Star was their take on the pop music business of the day (in general) and studio-created bands (such as The Monkees) in particular. With a trumpet solo by the South African musician Hugh Masakela the short song matches its sardonic lyrics with some of Roger McGuinn’s twangy guitar licks. The song has had a notable variety of cover versions: some of the most famous ones include Tom Petty, Patti Smith, Black Oak Arkansas, Bon Jovi as well as Eddie Vedder of Pearl Jam.

And below you can listen to it.

So you want to be a rock ‘n’ roll star?

Then listen now to what I say

Just get an electric guitar

Then take some time and learn how to play

And with your hair swung right

And your pants too tight

It’s gonna be all right

Then it’s time to go downtown

Where the agent man won’t let you down

Sell your soul to the company

Who are waiting there to sell plastic ware

And in a week or two,

If you make the charts

The girls’ll tear you apart

The price you paid

for your riches and fame,

Was it all a strange game?

You’re a little insane

The money, the fame

and the public acclaim,

Don’t forget who you are,

You’re a rock and roll star!


8 comments

  1. “so” is kind of pushy?

    Well, there you have it! 🙂

    I love words, Ed. Thanks for sharing this wordie essay. I am not sure that I would give credit to programmers. I wrote “if then else” for many years and never felt admiration for Microsoft programmers. I am going to try to remember when I first started seeing it and using it.  

  2. Diana in NoVa

    Enjoyed this diary, Ed. I’m working up to a rant soon on the misuse of the English language.

    Have you noticed also that “so” stands by itself in sentences uttered by lazy journalists, and now, by nearly everyone else? Yechh!  It used to be that “so” had to be followed by “that” somewhere in the sentence. For example, instead of saying:

    “So many people tried to buy tickets that the box office ran out of them.”

    Many people now say:

    “The box office ran out of tickets because it was mobbed by so many.”

    (And don’t even get me started on “a ways.” “A ways?” Uh, as in the indefinite article is singular and the noun is plural? Grrr!)

    To me the most infamous use of “So” is by Darth Cheney. Someone taxed him with one of his numerous crimes (forget whether it was the lie about weapons of mass destruction or the number of people who’d died in Iraq after he started his war of choice), and he said “So?”

    Wish I believed in hell so I could think of that dirtbag getting his.

     

  3. Diana in NoVa

    Problem is, every time I think I’ve finished writing a rant, I think of something new to add. I get apoplectic at the way people use “foreboding” instead of “forbidding”!  Gripe, gripe, screech.

    I’ve got my photo all prepared though.:)

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