'So' as to speak...

Working in an MNC having free lancers as a major workforce, one comes across a lot of interesting observations...oh no not enough to blog regularly about but definitely worth a blog or two.

In order to motivate these freelancers or consultants, the company organises a lot of meetings and training sessions on regular basis. These meetings unfortunately are not limited to the managers talking (as if that were not enough) but it also involves successful consultants coming forward and sharing their "success stories" to the bored crowd. Now it must be noted that these consultants are largely homemakers who have stepped out for extra money and in some cases a chance to recapture a dream - of perhaps being a career woman. One cannot expect them to be good public speakers nor can one expect them to wax eloquence in English. But it doesnt apply to the ladies in question who insist on using a smatter of English when they speak. A word that is so subtle yet used a lot is the very ordinary 'So'.

Yes people...please welcome "So".

Wiktionary describes 'so' as a common conjunction and adverb.

When used as conjunction it has a synonym of "in order that". An eg: Drink milk so you can grow strong.

When used as an adverb it has a synonym of very/ to this or that extent. For eg: He is so good.

I checked all this up because I tend to forget the many uses of 'so' when I hear people in the meetings. Here, 'so' is used more as a convenient word to fill silences or to join two relatively different sentences together. Sometimes they also become conversation starters. At some other times they More examples:

1. A manager from a different department who sets his eyes on me in the morning, greets me with a "So...good morning mam." When actually that is his first sentence to me, he speaks as if we have been having a good conversation going.

2. A consultant who is enthusiastically talking about a particularly hard sale says,

"I went to her house in the morning and she is preparing breakfast for her family. So I tell her to use this product to prepare breakfast." A pause. A smile. "So she uses it and the food is prepared in a second and the family is happy. So that is the story of my successful sale this week." Er..gotta work around that dont you?

3. A manager who is trying desperately to increase sales but cant really show it to the lethargic, generally bored group says - "So what should you do? Yes? Tell me what should you do?" The crowd stirs a bit. In desperation she looks at the smart consultants (more like the smart students of the class) who promptly give an answer that she wants. "Give her a big clap" she goes. "So, for success you have to blah blah and work hard this week." Looks around and finds a prey. "So tell me Mrs. X what do you think should be your target this week?" Deer caught in the headlight sort of an expression crosses her face and the said woman names a figure. "Oh good. So Mrs. X will be doing X sale this week. So let us all give her a big hand!" Claps follow.

4. A manager calling a particular consultant to the dias. "So let us call Mrs. Y in the front so that she can tell us her success story. Lets give her a big hand!" More claps. In this example of course the 'so' is used as a program starter.

So ladies and gentleman let us give them a big hand so that they continue to use this word in so many many many creative ways. The lesson for today is over. Now all of you give me a big hand!