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Post by patricklondon on May 19, 2011 14:34:14 GMT
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Post by mich64 on May 19, 2011 15:22:14 GMT
For those of us who only have the ability of concrete understanding, this chart displays why we have difficulty, especially in social situations. I have to thank my husband and family for explaining what you all really mean daily. The exercise was beneficial for me to read, Thank you. Cheers, Mich
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Post by mickthecactus on May 19, 2011 15:28:21 GMT
That is pretty accurate.............. ;D
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Post by onlymark on May 19, 2011 16:09:35 GMT
I click on it and I get "500 Internal Server Error". No page at all.
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Post by Deleted on May 19, 2011 17:00:44 GMT
It reads like my employee relations committee reports. Not bad.
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Post by onlymark on May 19, 2011 18:10:36 GMT
Definitely true. I always warn the expats here who aren't English to be aware of what an Englishman means when he says that something is 'interesting'.
They've missed out though -
However (you're talking out of your arse and I disagree) Sorry (you bumped into me but didn't apologise) Sorry (no I'm not) I'm afraid... (no I'm not) I regret to say.. (no I'm not) Tasty (it has a taste but it's of shit) I have a house in the country (Mansion, more like) I have a boat (a yacht bigger than a Greek island) Pleased to meet you (I doubt I am) Would you mind.. (I don't care if you mind or not, I want you to do it) It may well work.. (not a chance in hell) It's not the winning, it's the taking part (you're a loser) No, your bum doesn't look big in that..................................
And I'm sure there's many more.
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Post by patricklondon on May 20, 2011 5:44:41 GMT
"How are you?" = "You look miserable as sin, for God's sake don't pass it on, whatever it is" = "At last! A sympathetic ear"
"Amazing hat!" = "Whatever you paid for it, they saw you coming" = "She thinks I'm a style icon!"
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Post by spindrift on May 20, 2011 10:55:31 GMT
Very interesting
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Post by cheerypeabrain on May 25, 2011 16:49:46 GMT
My boss today
'Concussion? poor you...don't even think of coming back to work until you feel completely well'
=
'SKIVER!!!'
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Post by lola on May 25, 2011 18:11:19 GMT
So, how do the English put it when they think something is interesting? Just in case that would ever happen to me?
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Post by onlymark on May 25, 2011 19:19:02 GMT
We say "spiffing".
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Post by onlymark on May 25, 2011 19:35:09 GMT
In reality I think we'd tend to avoid the word and describe the interest it in a different way. However, one of the problems is that even the English are not sure, when you use certain words, if you are serious or not - or just being polite. Usually you can tell 'interest' by other things like asking questions about whatever it is rather than moving on or changing the subject.
Yet again though I say, however. However, you can never be sure in any event because questions may also be asked purely out of politeness as it is realised you are interested in the subject. Misinterpretation can all too easily happen. In one way we can be as inscrutable and hard to read as the Japanese.
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Post by lola on May 25, 2011 20:46:59 GMT
That's what the rest of us find so interesting about yall.
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Post by Deleted on May 25, 2011 20:58:09 GMT
Jolly good!
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Post by onlymark on May 25, 2011 21:32:38 GMT
Absolutely spiffing.
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Post by bjd on May 26, 2011 6:27:50 GMT
Mark, have you read a book called "Watching the English" by Kate Fox? She gets a bit repetitive over the length of the book, but does explain/describe lots of English behaviour that seems odd to outsiders, like apologizing when someone bumps into you, the sense of humour, football and other violence, etc.
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Post by onlymark on May 26, 2011 8:43:04 GMT
I'm the uncredited co-author.
Yes, I read it a bit over a year ago and I agree with what you say. I was a bit disappointed with her map conclusion thing (whatever you call it). She mentioned it so many times it was a bit of a letdown at the end. She is very good with some things but I didn't agree with everything she said. On the whole though she seemed to get make sense and put into words what I'd thought.
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Post by onlymark on May 26, 2011 8:44:33 GMT
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Post by onlymark on May 26, 2011 11:56:46 GMT
Interesting! Extracts after the link - www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13545386"There are Britons in Berlin who get taken aback by the directness of Germans. And there are Germans who get really annoyed when Britons (and Americans), in an effort to appear friendly, say things they don't really mean. Some Germans call this "lying". The German language doesn't even have an expression for "small talk", she says. It is so alien that in the German translation of A Bear called Paddington - Paddington unser kleiner Baer - it was omitted. So this exchange of small talk occurs in the English original: "'Hallo Mrs Bird,' said Judy. 'It's nice to see you again. How's the rheumatism?' 'Worse than it's ever been' began Mrs. Bird." In the German edition, this passage is simply cut. This gap between German directness and British indirectness is the source of much miscommunication, says Professor Derek Bousfield ...... There are many documented cases where the British understate a very serious problem with phrases like "there seem to be one or two problems here" or "there seems to be a little bit of an issue with this", he says. Sometimes it's endearing, or at least the British think it is, as when this announcement was made by British Airways pilot Eric Moody in 1982, after flying through a cloud of volcanic ash over Indonesia: "Ladies and gentlemen, this is your captain speaking. We have a small problem. All four engines have stopped. We are doing our damnedest to get them going again. I trust you are not in too much distress." But it can also be confusing if you're not used to it."
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Post by onlymark on May 26, 2011 12:04:46 GMT
In being married to an all but German wife ('all but' meaning she wasn't born there but has nationality) I have many times expressed exasperation at the direct way she can ask for or say things. Plus when mixing with her friends I soon realise that any conversation we have seems to be a serious one about politics or terrorism etc. There is very little leading up to it with 'pleasantries'.
On the other hand when she is with my family or friends she is becomes exasperated about how we can talk for ages and have seemingly no substance to it. She also frequently asks me to 'translate' something that has been said, not because she doesn't understand the words, but the meaning.
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Post by Deleted on May 26, 2011 14:05:51 GMT
I have always preferred the directness of the Vietnamese to the Thais, who exasperate me. Having taken many buses in both countries, I always use the rest stop as a case in point. In Thailand, the person will come up with a cheesy smile and say "I hope you have had a nice lunch and been able to relax and maybe use the toilet. When you are ready we will continue with the trip." All this with delicate hand motions and bowing. In Vietnam, the bus master walks up and says sternly "You get on bus now!" We get back on the road much faster.
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Post by bixaorellana on Aug 10, 2011 23:42:27 GMT
when she is with my family or friends she is becomes exasperated about how we can talk for ages and have seemingly no substance to it. Once, while riding in the car with my sister & her husband, I told them how my husband seemed to have no talent for small talk. My sister & I (both skilled talkers of talk of any size) were discussing this in the depth it deserved, when suddenly my brother-in-law sputtered out, "Small talk? Small talk??!!! You people are the masters of tiny talk!!!"
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Post by auntieannie on Aug 11, 2011 13:05:37 GMT
ha! only saw that now... very true! I keep getting in trouble for being direct.
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