Subtle differences between the US and the UK that baffle me/you/us. - by SubJeff
demagogue on 2/12/2012 at 03:59
Quote Posted by frozenman
This isn't a thorough observation- but I've always been curious about how the British seem to phrase conversational questions in a particular way. You might hear something like "It's not like he robbed a bank, did he?" vs. "He didn't rob a bank" I don't know how to describe this linguistically, but whenever I watch British TV it jumps out at me and I can't unhear it.
This is part of what I mentioned. They use more non-committal and hedging language -- could instead of can or will, a question instead of a statement -- so it's easy to backtrack if it's wrong or challenged. I mean Americans have it too. "Could you help me with this?" instead of "Hey you, help me with this, huh?". It's more polite. But Brits take it further generally and seem like they're waffling to an American whereas Americans sound more assertive, or the Brits are being sensible & Americans bossy depending on your perspective.
It never bothered me too much because Japanese take it to an even more insane extreme, where I'm not even sure who or what they're talking about because they leave so much implied (they won't even mention the subject by name so you have to guess) and are non-committal to an extreme... Sometimes just turning their head and saying "maaaaybe...." to shoot down everything you're saying and not deal with it.
Fafhrd on 2/12/2012 at 06:10
I'll just leave this here:
[video=youtube;FkF_XpA5P48]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FkF_XpA5P48[/video]
nickie on 2/12/2012 at 07:40
Quote Posted by frozenman
This isn't a thorough observation- but I've always been curious about how the British seem to phrase conversational questions in a particular way. You might hear something like "It's not like he robbed a bank, did he?" vs. "He didn't rob a bank" I don't know how to describe this linguistically, but whenever I watch British TV it jumps out at me and I can't unhear it.
To me, that is just a shortened version of: it isn't as if he did anything as bad as rob a bank. He didn't rob a bank is more a factual statement rather than a judgement of character which is what the first is.
demagogue on 2/12/2012 at 07:48
He didn't pick the best example to make the point. But watching British tele compared to US tv you can't help but notice, like the guy in that rap said, they'll use 14 words to do the same job you could do with 5, and those extra words are usually more circumspect (could & would instead of can & will, etc).
SubJeff on 2/12/2012 at 08:55
I suspect you mean our penchant for verbosity.
It's the difference between delivering a message in scrawled crayon on a crumpled page from a common jotter, and a finely inked letter, on good paper, in the proper envelope, waxed and sealed, proffered by a delightful French tart upon a silver platter.
Both do the job, only one in the correct manner.
demagogue on 2/12/2012 at 09:11
It was a certain British bard that once said, "Brevity is the soul of wit."
People use too many words when they don't know exactly what they want to say, and just keep hamming on the fly until they get the gist across. I know because I do it all the time. ;)
nickie on 2/12/2012 at 09:13
Quote Posted by demagogue
He didn't pick the best example to make the point. But watching British tele compared to US tv you can't help but notice, like the guy in that rap said, they'll use 14 words to do the same job you could do with 5, and those extra words are usually more circumspect (could & would instead of can & will, etc).
It's 'telly' and the reason they do that is because they have nothing new or interesting to say so they have to pad out what little they do have. TV has been relentlessly dumbed down over the last several years. (
http://www.itv.com/itvplayer/bychannel/?Filter=ITV1) This is what we are offered on tv catch up on one of the main channels. I think I watched the footie. British footie not US. :)
Needless to say, I don't watch a lot of telly, British or US, I rely on CommChat for my entertainment.
Sulphur on 2/12/2012 at 09:13
Quote Posted by Subjective Effect
I suspect you mean our penchant for verbosity.
It's the difference between delivering a message in scrawled crayon on a crumpled page from a common jotter, and a finely inked letter, on good paper, in the proper envelope, waxed and sealed, proffered by a delightful French tart upon a silver platter.
Both do the job, only one in the correct manner.
Ah, that video missed out the other thing that riddles British elocution, circumspection be damned: that vast and incalculable air of snottiness.
nickie on 2/12/2012 at 09:20
Yes, I agree we can be very good at that.
