World, Writing, Wealth discussion

In line with Political Corectness discussion or with no connection to it, the below table is running on the internet for a few years and has a lot of comments and interpretation in the media:

http://static3.businessinsider.com/im...

No offense to the Brits, of course. I find this humorous table useful in everyday life and not only in context of people from the UK.
Doesn't, for example, an Amazon review named "An excellent book" or "Highly recommended" together with a 3-star rating come from the same background?
Don't guidelines to critic writing include instruction how to sugarcoat things?

What do you think?

That's humorous, I don't really pay attention to those type interpretations. I do think it's interesting how people use sarcasm to try and make a point as opposed to just 'plain speak.' Not rude of course, but direct without being 'cute' or 'clever' which are done for the speaker's own benefit. :-)

As a Brit I was amused by it, I'm not offended and I think it's largely true. It's just our nuance of the way we communicate and like Denise said;

Denise wrote: "Bah! Years ago, people were raised to respect others. As individuals, we should be teaching ourselves and younger generations to do that."

It's a sugar-coating way we have of talking that takes into account the feelings of others.

The phrase is more often "with all due respect" and I once started to say something to a senior manager by saying that first. He cut me off and told me that saying that means that the speaker means the opposite! Well, he was an idiot...

You realize though that those who are unfamiliar with these nuances understands it like written in the third column.-:) Sometimes the understanding may be exactly opposite to the intention

Nik wrote: "You realize though that those who are unfamiliar with these nuances understands it like written in the third column.-:) Sometimes the understanding may be exactly opposite to the intention"

I assume the third column really means others, as in not British, because a Brit talking to another Brit probably wouldn't make that mistake.

To be fair, though, each culture has its idiosyncrasies that go beyond the literal meaning of the words. I believe in Japan, for example, they cannot say "no" so they will always say "yes" to your suggestions. It is up to tone and body language to distinguish a genuine "yes" from a troubled but polite "yes".

BTW - my father is very sparse with praise. To hear "Quite good" from his lips is actually the height of praise, rather than disappointment.

Ian wrote: "To be fair, though, each culture has its idiosyncrasies that go beyond the literal meaning of the words...."

Sure, I'm bringing this with no negative connotation. I found it quite humorous and in parts - spot on.
Yeah, it's different around the globe. Some would actually find straightforward approach - rude and insulting. Don't know how true it is, but someone told in Bulgaria - shaking head usually mean - yes and nodding - 'no', or something like that. Confusing -:)

Ian wrote: "To be fair, though, each culture has its idiosyncrasies that go beyond the literal meaning of the words. I believe in Japan, for example, they cannot say "no" so they will always say "yes" to your suggestions. It is up to tone and body language to distinguish a genuine "yes" from a troubled but polite "yes"."

Indeed! I once read about an American who moved to a country, I forget which one but it was one of the -stans. It was the norm in that country to ask three times before you got the answer of 'yes'. She was puzzled that whenever a close friend used to visit the friend would always decline a cup of tea, but later she learnt the 'rule of three'. She tried this, and on the third offer her friend responded with a big smile and a yes.

Nik wrote: "Yeah, it's different around the globe. Some would actually find straightforward approach - rude and insulting."

Oh yes; I'm told that in Italy, if you write to a business or public sector organisation you should never get straight to the point. You always have to write a flowery, verbose essay; getting to the point is not the done thing at all. You see that effusive style of writing too in Italian newspapers.

Well, I'm a Brit, and the list made me chuckle, although some of the 'hidden' meanings have been twisted a little for comic effect. The first one, for example, when being used would probably go something like 'I hear what your saying, but...' followed by reasons for things not being agreed with.
Yes, it does come down to the British always trying to be polite, and it is something that has to be taken into account when writing reviews. You have to be honest and clear, but you also have to be tactful. Politic, if you like.

World Englises was born to accommodate the culture into the language. So that the culture wasn't lost in the hegemony of political/ linguistic colonisation.

Mehreen wrote: "World Englises was born to accommodate the culture into the language. So that the culture wasn't lost in the hegemony and political/ linguistic colonisation."

Maybe why that is why the use of British English is worsening and American English is taking over. So many American word spellings and phrases are entering the British lexicon. The only one-star review I ever gave for a book had a British setting with American spelling throughout (as well as the crap plot, unlikeable characters, poor use of language and factual errors).

Jen wrote: "The only one-star review I ever gave for a book had a British setting with American spelling throughout ..."

I recently saw the opposite...an American setting with characters using British slang. Though in this case, I didn't think it was a bad book and the language was just something I noticed.

I tend to think as long as we're speaking the same language why does it matter if someone's using British vs. American or vice versa? I'm seeing an increasingly annoying trend where documentaries are subtitling people speaking English in other countries...whether it's throughout Africa or Australia...though I actually saw them subtitling someone actually here in the States a couple weeks ago!

Though in fairness to the discussion, I had seen some years back where the same difference in a language exist in French as well between the French-speaking Canadians and the actual French.

Jen wrote: "Mehreen wrote: "World Englises was born to accommodate the culture into the language. So that the culture wasn't lost in the hegemony and political/ linguistic colonisation."

Maybe why that is why..."

I live in Australia and their diction is so unique that no English speaker understands it. And then there is the Indian English too.

Mehreen wrote: "I live in Australia and their diction is so unique that no English speaker understands it. And then there is the Indian English too. "

Even to an English person many of the local dialects around England are almost impossible to understand!

The table shows that understanding the word is not enough, sometimes understanding the manner of speaking is required. Unless, you know the subtleties, who would think that English 'not bad' may be similar to Amercian 'awesome', or understand that 'very interesting' may actually mean 'that is complete nonsense' and so on -:) ?

Ian wrote: "Mehreen wrote: "I live in Australia and their diction is so unique that no English speaker understands it. And then there is the Indian English too. "

Even to an English person many of the local d..."

Totally, almost like a different language

I still don't get the concept of 'American' English . . .

Nik wrote: "The table shows that understanding the word is not enough, sometimes understanding the manner of speaking is required. Unless, you know the subtleties, who would think that English 'not bad' may be..."

Kinda like the way men and women speak/hear the exact same words differently

Segilola wrote: "Kinda like the way men and women speak/hear the exact same words differently ..."

I wasn't going to say it, but yeah... :)

Fortunately (or unfortunately) my wife has known me long enough now that she understands what I'm saying, even if I'm saying something other than what I mean to be saying.

Segilola wrote: "Kinda like the way men and women speak/hear the exact same words differently"

Ooh! A whole new realm of misunderstanding to explore :)

My candidate for the most dangerously misunderstood phrase in marriage: "I don't mind, it's your decision."

Ian wrote: "Segilola wrote: "Kinda like the way men and women speak/hear the exact same words differently"

Ooh! A whole new realm of misunderstanding to explore :)

My candidate for the most dangerously misunderstood phrase in marriage: "I don't mind, it's your decision." "

ahahahahahhahahahahhaah

Ian wrote: ""I don't mind, it's your decision."..."

-:)
If I'm being an interpreter here, would it mean: "You dare not..." in modern English?

Nik wrote: "Ian wrote: ""I don't mind, it's your decision."..."

-:)
If I'm being an interpreter here, would it mean: "You dare not..." in modern English?"

In my experience, it's best translated as: "I've made up my mind and you'd better come to the same conclusion yourself."

Thought this translation guide might be useful towards the beginning of negotiations on Brexit -:)

We might not understand Womenish too sometimes and vice versa -:)

Good list

I had the opportunity to live in the USA for a few years and the differences in tone and meaning were often as profound as the spelling and pronunciation.

Once PC point - I was often rolled out to do debriefs (in the military) because I would say how it was. My US colleagues would debrief with good and not so good I did good and bad. If things were bad they wanted me to say it because I was foreign and could get away with it. So much for English politeness!

Philip wrote: "If things were bad they wanted me to say it because I was foreign and could get away with it..."

Interesting and unexpected

Tim wrote: "I often find myself telling the story of how, upon my first visit to New York, I was sat in an Irish bar where, in those days, it was okay to smoke. I was chatting to an American friend and offered..."

-:)

Wouldn't be surprised if the first few months of EU-UK negotiations were spent on deciding which lingo to use for negotiation purposes

The table is pretty accurate. If you want someone to stop their plan, you say it is a very brave decision (brave = suicidal for their career). The 'Eton and Oxford Method' for getting rid of people you don't like is to reply "That's interesting" to everything they say until they give up and leave. A lethally destructive demolition of someone's character and abilities can be achieved thus: "Well, he tries hard...". "It was good talking to you" means I don't want to talk to you any more. "How do you do" or "How are you?" needs only a one word answer, Fine, because no one cares how you are feeling or what medicine you're taking for your diseased toe. We also say "Sorry" when it's YOUR fault and you haven't said it yet.

If you want a fascinating laugh try



For anyone visiting England who wants to get served in a pub there is a great section on pub queues. It also has the run down on the 'How do you do' exchange Faith mentions above

Valuable insider's info, guys -:)
Reminds me now how using the wrong fingers to show '3' in Inglorious Bastards gave away the English spy

If you want to have a good laugh about language quirks, watch the Quebec movie 'BON COP, BAD COP', or its sequel about to get into cinemas, 'BON COP, BAD COP 2'. In them, a francophone Quebec police detective working a case with an anglophone detective from Ontario teaches his colleague the finer use of Quebec 'Joual' (Quebec old French) and swearing in 'Québecois'. Those movies are actually bilingual: when one of the two main actors speak in either French or English, the corresponding phrase in the other language appears as a caption. You can also catch the best parts of 'BON COP BAD COP' on Youtube.

Yeah, fingers and mimics are excellent visual communication devices.
Good that mooning became a little less popular

Having so many not native English speakers, just wanted to make sure we are still on the same page and repeat the initial true dictionary: http://static3.businessinsider.com/im...
How articulate are you in English to sound enthusiastic, empathetic or supportive while really meaning neither? -:)

As in, "Yeah, right"?

Exactly

Or, 'Sure!', or 'Of course!'