Så (change of topic-marker)
Words like nå and så (roughly translates to ’well’ and ’so’) and constructions like nå men can function as markers one uses to change the conversation topic. Such a marker can therefore be used to show that the speaker wishes the current topic of the conversation to end and return to or introduce a new topic.
The excerpt below illustrates this use of så. The excerpt originates from a recording of a band that is practicing in their studio for a concert. Dennis is currently adjusting some sounds on a computer while Nicolai and Lars are joking with each other and are playing randomly on their instruments in the lines 12-16.
AULing | Øvelokale | 12
01 N: så kan man sige JA
'then one can say YES'
02 N: men ja ka føle noget comp[uter >det] ka du ikk<
'but yes can feel something computer you can't do
that'
03 L: [ja mmm ]
'yes mm'
04 L: JA forberedt ø:h forbered alt mit altså,=
'YES prepared uh prepare all of mine, well'
05 L: =HVA fanden er det med je:r,
'WHAT the hell is with you guys'
06 ((Q and J starts playing for 3.9 seconds))
07 D: S::Å
'S::O'
08 (0.9)
09 D: SKA vi køre↑
'SHALL we go'
10 (0.7)
11 D: en tur
'[for] a ride'
12 L: jaer=
13 M: jaer
With S::Å in line 7, Dennis announces a wish to change the topic. The others stop playing and a break follows which lasts 0.9 seconds. Now D introduces a new topic in lines 09-11 which the others pick up on in lines 12-13.
Sources and further reading
Kragelund & Mikkelsen (2010) show in their Bachelor thesis how musicians in a rehearsal room switches between everyday talk and institutional talk.
Related entries
Forms > Word Classes > Interjections and particles
Functions > Actions > Initiation and completion of activities > Change of activity