"So.............."

[Padraig]

Do you think, DracoM, that Heaney was influenced by American films?
Or was he possibly trying to interpret with as much accuracy as possible the Old English text?
Or is the point not worth considering?

[DracoM]

Heaney is responding to the 'Hwæt!' which starts Beowulf. It probably means 'pay attention' or 'Lo!', or 'Listen...'. There have been many interpretations of what exactly it means.

[Gordon]

And another thing....

BTW [sorry a tic I have] Klemperer apparently had a way of disconcerting people by exclaiming "So!" when confronted with something he disagreed with. Once Barenboim came back at him in a playback when criticised for not being "subito" enough and old K was so surprised that all he could say was "So!". Apparently old K had a soft spot for Barenboim. SO Jewish of him!!

[Padraig]

So. Do you think Heaney got it wrong? There is no exclamation mark as in Lo! or Listen!
Or as in Gordon's Klemperer reference.

[muzzer]

Yeah, no.

[french frank]

Any over-prevalent verbal tic can be irritating, but people can't help it. It's an unconscious conversation filler - a dummy word or phrase empty of meaning. .

A 'phatic utterance'

[mangerton]

"So shaken as we are, so wan with care,"

If it's good enough for Shakespeare.....

[VodkaDilc]

Start counting the number of people [ notably under 40] who now start every explanation with 'so'.
Getting seriously upon wick.

Most irritating. It's also becoming common with people who mix with the under-40s - listen to some of the academics who are interviewed on television.

For me though, this is not as annoying as the wrong pronunciation of 'the'. Weather forecasters (especially young and female) seem to be the worst: "Rain spreading from therr east by therr end of the day" , when the English pronunciation before a vowel is 'thee'. Or is it just me?

[Thropplenoggin]

Most irritating. It's also becoming common with people who mix with the under-40s - listen to some of the academics who are interviewed on television.

For me though, this is not as annoying as the wrong pronunciation of 'the'. Weather forecasters (especially young and female) seem to be the worst: "Rain spreading from therr east by therr end of the day" , when the English pronunciation before a vowel is 'thee'. Or is it just me?

According to this, you are correct, because of the vowel sound 'east', 'end': http://www.englishclub.com/pronunciation/the.htm 'Thuh' is correct before a consonant sound.

[Honoured Guest]

So, 'the' - There's no such thing as an "English" pronunciation. There are many regional pronunciations. And nothing stays the same. Everything changes.

[VodkaDilc]

According to this, you are correct, because of the vowel sound 'east', 'end': http://www.englishclub.com/pronunciation/the.htm 'Thuh' is correct before a consonant sound.

Thank you for giving a more appropriate spelling - 'thuh'. Over-use of 'thee' is common, of course. The Prime Minister does it all the time. Far less irritating though.

[Thropplenoggin]

So, 'the' - There's no such thing as an "English" pronunciation. There are many regional pronunciations. And nothing stays the same. Everything changes.

How very Heraclitean.

[VodkaDilc]

So, 'the' - There's no such thing as an "English" pronunciation. There are many regional pronunciations. And nothing stays the same. Everything changes.

Of course. I just think we prefer to hear broadcasters and public figures using the standard version.

[MrGongGong]

I prefer "Car in the rain" or "Melt"

[Beef Oven!]

Of course. I just think we prefer to hear broadcasters and public figures using the standard version.

Preferably without regional accents - bring back those clipped sonorities that we had when the higher classes did the broadcasting.