So, about this message...

[Hillary Brown]

According to Joe Dante's contribution to the Showtime series _Masters
of Horror, titled "Homecoming," such rhetorical devices make the talk
show participant appear thoughtful, as though he or she is not merely
repeating talking points but coming up with whatever he or she is
saying on the spot.

hb


On 10/26/06, Charles Doyle <cdoyle at uga.edu> wrote:
> ---------------------- Information from the mail header -----------------------
> Sender:       American Dialect Society <ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
> Poster:       Charles Doyle <cdoyle at UGA.EDU>
> Subject:      Re: So, about this message...
> -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
>
> Nicely put!
>
> Only in the last year or two have I begun noticing on TV that nearly every response to a question from an interviewer or anchorman begins, "Well, . . ."  Has that always been happening?  Now, when an answer DOESN'T begin with "well," it sounds abrupt, curt, blunt, or unthoughtful.
>
> --Charlie
> ___________________________________________
>
> ---- Original message ----
> >Date: Thu, 26 Oct 2006 06:17:36 -0700
> >From: GLL <guy1656 at OPUSNET.COM>
> >Subject: So, about this message...
> >To: ADS-L at LISTSERV.UGA.EDU
> >
> >
> >This use of 'so' may both be as much a new use as it is a new application of an existing tool. I've heard radio ads start with 'so' in the same manner.
> >
> >The use of 'so' implies a continuation of a current conversation, indicating an extension or a conclusion of a previously established line of reasoning. If indicating a conclusion, 'so' may be used to indicate a shift in the topic: now that [n] had been settled, we can move on to our next agendum.
> >
> >In advertising, or in the case of someone initiating with 'so,' the speaker is trying to establish more familiarity, and therefore a fuller, more complete, or quicker response. Quickness is impled because the speaker is also implying that the social protocols which establish familiarity and a willingness to interact have already been satisfied.
> >
> >"You have already authenticated me as a valid speaker and a valid topic - We can now move on to a topic extension or change the subject while retaining the 'OK to talk with' flag."
> >
> >So, the 'so' ploy is an attempt to override our normal firewalls we employ when a stranger approaches and starts talking. We first try to figure out WHY we should respond: do I *know* this person, is this person a mental defect talking to himself, or maybe he's got a Bluetooth phone in his opposite ear and his words are part of a conversation to which I am not actually  being invited to respond, or perhaps this is a customer service situation and here is my next customer with a question.
> >
> >This use of 'so' is a bit aggressive, meaning 'I don't want you to waste anyof MY time authenticating me - just start listening to my next topic NOW.'
> >
> >- G
>
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