Motley Moose – Archive

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.