American English has a new filler word!

[poli]

So now means pues. It has taken over the word well in academic circles.
Here's a example I heard in an interview recently:

"Why has polio not been eradicated as small pox has?"

"So (used instead of well), there are three strains of polio, and only one has been eradicated.

This is just one of many examples. It's everywhere and seemingly overnight, and in fact, it's become overused almost as soon a it was coined.

[Tomisimo]

So.. () I've been hearing this a lot for the last couple of years. I don't particularly like it, but when language changes, it changes and there's not a lot we can do about it.

[pjt33]

Originally Posted by poli

It's everywhere and seemingly overnight, and in fact, it's become overused almost as soon a it was coined.

That's generally a sign that you're being fooled by the recency illusion and it has in fact been used in the given sense for a century.

[poli]

Originally Posted by pjt33

That's generally a sign that you're being fooled by the recency illusion and it has in fact been used in the given sense for a century.

Perhaps it has been around for a century--as in "so, ya think you're a wise guy don't ya.", but the new so is not colorful at all and constantly used. Just listen to NPR. I think it's been around for awhile but recently metastasized much the way the verb to impact devoured to have an impact on a couple of decades ago.