Speech Affectations

[pinstripe]

Is there a term or name given to this really frustrating habit of starting all sentences with "So" or "Basically" or "Literally" that seems to be rife at the moment?

[barry1010]

Discourse markers.

[barry1010]

Thinking about it, I can't recall hearing anyone start a sentence with 'literally'.

[lankeela]

Literally everyone these days starts a sentence with 'so'.

[barry1010]

Many people don't use it like that, the current usage literally makes my blood boil, like my head literally explodes.
Know what I mean? :D

[Khandro]

Actually, I think you may have a point there. :0)

[barry1010]

What happened to 'with all due respect'? That was a bugbear of mine especially as it was usually followed by an insult or complaint with no respect at all.

[vulcan42]

I don't know if there is a name for this. So basically I think it literally is thinking time.

[cashier]

" I mean" seems a popular start these days.

[brainiac]

Australian sportsmen and women nearly always start their answers to questions with 'Look.....'
Just watch when The Ashes starts!

[dave50]

And of course every sentence has the annoying rising inflection, as though every comment is a question.

[Hymie]

So, basically what literally is wrong with that?

[Peter Pedant]

yup Barry ( or Barr' as he wd be n Darzet, aaarh!)
is correct


Discourse markers' is the term linguists give to the little words like 'well', 'oh', 'but', and 'and' that break our speech up into parts and show the relation between parts.

wiki article on it

google "linguistics discourse markers" and you will get lots of hits

[Peter Pedant]

My God
there is a wiki on 'so' !

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/So_(word)

oh and I dont think 'so' is a speech affectation
1936 Edward VIII - "and I speak to you now"
you comes out as yo - and he did it all the time apparently

[Barsel]

Nothing is as bad as er or erm, at the beginning and during speech.

[Atheist]

Good speakers omit the 'erms' and 'so's and 'looks', and leave their audience in suspense, waiting for their real words which mean something. .....Pauses .....and quiet words... are effective in gaining attention, and make the following words more striking.

[jourdain2]

'So' is appalling. I turn off when I hear someone start a sentence with it. I think it has become an accepted 'time-gainer' - but most of the time it means nothing and is used wrongly.

'Literally' can be amusing, in a deathly sort of way as the Eng. Lang. fades.

As for the Australian upward 'question inflexion' at the end of every sentence - words fail me.
No wonder there are huge gaps in communication these days.

[barry1010]

'So' at the start of a sentence can be an excellent intention indicator, depending on inflection.
A brisk 'so' calls for attention from an unruly group; a long drawn out 'so' indicates juicy confidences amongst friends.
Part way through a conversation it prepares us for a change of subject.
Such a little word, so much meaning.

[jourdain2]

Agreed, Barry - but it has been abused.

[Hazlinny]

When Bradley Walsh asks contestants on "The Chase" what they do or about their job, nine times out of ten they start the answer off with "So" - it grinds!

[Atheist]

I find interesting those words that have no real meaning but which can say so much.
Example from Anthony Burgess - Sergeant says to officer after he's been asked why the machine-gun didn't fire a jolly volley. "Sah! The puckin pucker's puckin pucked! Sah!"
They all knew what was meant.