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I quote Verity Stob from today's Register:(And one other thing about the Youth Faction: they prefixed every paragraph they spoke with the word 'so'. For they did not realise how ridiculous it is to begin every thought with the same, repeated conjunction.)

The Sons of Kahn and the Witch of Wookey • The Register



I have had it up to here with plonkers on the radio starting every single answer to any question under the sun with "So...", it's teeth-clenching. Especially anyone offering a science-based response, for some reason. It takes the place of the silent pause denoting considered thought prior to answering.

I actually checked last week on what Philippe Kahn was doing. That's serendipitous synchronicity for you. I ended up reeding Jerry Pournelle's View from Chaos Manor in Byte lauding (rightly) Sidekick.

I think I did a thread about this affectation sometime ago........

But while I am here........

Do people speaking actually divide that speech into paragraphs ? Or is that used solely in the written word ?

So.......just asking.

As far as I'm concerned, to use 'so' before a reply etc. is marginally better than the more commonly used 'umm', which is most irritating to me.

Bruv;1496163 wrote: I think I did a thread about this affectation sometime ago........

But while I am here........

Do people speaking actually divide that speech into paragraphs ? Or is that used solely in the written word ?

So.......just asking.
I knew there had been a thread about it but being just a common two letter word I couldn't search for it. It was there in my memory. This thread was triggered by that comment in the quoted article. I'd have added it to your thread if I'd seen it when I looked. Show it to me and I'll merge them, they belong together.

People speak in paragraphs on programs like Melvin Bragg's In Our Time, for instance. They can't on any program in which Iain Duncan Smith participates because the unmitigated tosser deliberately talks over the top of anyone speaking their turn, so as to put them off their stride and drown their voice from the listening public. He should be sent out from the studio every time it happens until he learns politeness.

ummm . . . so . . . at the end of the day . . . I think all are equally disturbing. I'm just sayin'. :rolleyes:

spot;1496170 wrote: I knew there had been a thread about it but being just a common two letter word I couldn't search for it. It was there in my memory.

People speak in paragraphs on programs like Melvin Bragg's In Our Time, for instance.


Don't worry about it.

So.......thats why I have never come across spoken paragraphs, not being a fan of Melvin Bragg's In Our Time......are there any other examples.....in the wild ?

Every moment these last forty years when Clive James was on camera.

Fyfe Robertson of blessed memory.

Enoch Powell could extemporize for hours in paragraphs untainted by grammatical error or solecism.

And of course, though with longer gaps, Patrick Campbell.







eta: I might add Floella Benjamin, if I may.

I'm grateful I don't have such a florid imagination......reminds me of the great Victor Borge's Punctuation sketch..........which unfortunately you will be unable to watch.

And I was always taught that a sentence should never begin with the word "And".

Bruv;1496194 wrote: I'm grateful I don't have such a florid imagination......reminds me of the great Victor Borge's Punctuation sketch..........which unfortunately you will be unable to watch.




I loved Victor Borge and everything he ever did! What a brilliant man!!

Definitely one of a kind, Zap. I doubt there is anybody around today who could be as clever ! Although one person comes close and that's a fella called Gerard Hoffnung, a very clever 'after dinner speaker', broadcaster and public speaker........ hope you can get this, Zap. It is on YouTube. The 'bricklayer's lament'

G#Gill;1496216 wrote: Definitely one of a kind, Zap. I doubt there is anybody around today who could be as clever ! Although one person comes close and that's a fella called Gerard Hoffnung, a very clever 'after dinner speaker', broadcaster and public speaker........ hope you can get this, Zap. It is on YouTube. The 'bricklayer's lament'




I got it. Thanks gill.

His timing and delivery are perfect! What a hilarious piece. :yh_rotfl