The Truth Behind British Politeness (from The Telegraph)

[markjay]

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/new...-British-politeness-becomes-internet-hit.html

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/new...itish-politeness-becomes-internet-hit.html?fb

 

[grober]

Innit!

 

[ss201]

You must come for dinner................

 

[DSM10000]

You must come for dinner................

I'll bear it in mind..............

 

[Danny DeVito]

Wafflers

 

[Sp!ke]

I agree with most of what the article says.

 

[Deleted member 65149]

Like many others on this forum, I've spent a lot of my life working with foreigners here and in the rest of the world. It took a while to appreciate their interpretation of what I was saying or writing so I soon learnt to be more careful. The worry is that Mrs KE, who's mother tongue isn't English, uses some of those phrases and I'm still not always sure whether she's using them as a foreigner or a Brit. Her usual open to interpretation phrase is "I don't mind ... ", which for her means "I'd like ..." but can be understood as "I'm not bothered either way".

 

[martyz]

Very interesting.

 

[Meldrew2]

You must come for dinner................

Waffles

Are you only serving waffles for dinner? In that case I'm not coming.

It was bad enough at the Embassy reception when all the Ambassador offered was some nasty chocolates.......

.

 

[wemorgan]

It also works the other way. Chinese and Indians visiting the UK for business are very good at saying yes, when in fact they mean no.

 

[edstrom76]

 

[Deleted member 65149]

It also works the other way. Chinese and Indians visiting the UK for business are very good at saying yes, when in fact they mean no.

My experience with the Chinese has been that when they say "yes" whilst smiling and nodding, they really mean "I have heard and understood what you said. Let me talk to my boss and I may get back to you with an answer".

 

[artyman]

A bit like when you ask the wife what's wrong, and you get "Nothing" in response

 

[mejermy]

I simply don't ask............. Works for me.