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Also "What do you want" is not really a great example of directness. That's either passive-aggressive, leaving the customer guess if they have done something wr

by gutnor 9y ago

Also "What do you want" is not really a great example of directness. That's either passive-aggressive, leaving the customer guess if they have done something wrong, or it is, as you suggested, just a lost in translation case. "What can I get you" is a proper direct, clean way to indicate you are ready to take order. Compare that to London in hype-ish restaurant where you get "Hi, how are you doing today, my name is X" which you need to understand is your cue to engage in a business transaction instead of chitchat.

pan69 9y ago
I agree with you. It's just that "What can I get you" is a the proper "cultural" way to say it in English. In Dutch you say it differently, so a lot of Dutch (not being exposed to the proper cultural English way of saying things) just speak Dutch with English words. It's this that makes it sound harsh.
- hyperpallium 9y ago
  But isn't it also direct in Dutch? To put it in context: is there a way to say it even more directly in Dutch? Or, is it more that Dutch lacks different levels of directness? Perhaps similiarly to how English lacks the extensive polite forms of Japanese.
  - pan69 9y ago
    I think in Dutch it would be more the "tone", how it is asked, rather than the actual words. Imagining myself being a rude Dutch waiter, the rudest I could ask it in Dutch would probably by just saying "Ja?" (as in, Yes) in a grumpy tone. But if I say the same thing in a friendly way, it would probably be just fine for most occasions.
    - xxxdarrenxxx 9y ago
      I might have the answer.. What do you want Equates to Wat wilt u hebben (formal). Wat wil je hebben (informal) The subtle difference lies in "u" instead of "je". Both are equally translated to "you" in english and saying 'you' to both friends and say business partners bares no difference in either meaning or etiquette. You simply deal with it in a different form. In the Netherlands however it's considered bad etiquette to freely interchange these forms. If a child says 'je' to an adult/elder instead of 'u' almost every parent will correct their child and ask to rephrase it with the proper form.

by gutnor 9y ago

pan69 9y ago

I agree with you. It's just that "What can I get you" is a the proper "cultural" way to say it in English. In Dutch you say it differently, so a lot of Dutch (not being exposed to the proper cultural English way of saying things) just speak Dutch with English words. It's this that makes it sound harsh.

hyperpallium 9y ago
But isn't it also direct in Dutch? To put it in context: is there a way to say it even more directly in Dutch? Or, is it more that Dutch lacks different levels of directness? Perhaps similiarly to how English lacks the extensive polite forms of Japanese.
- pan69 9y ago
  I think in Dutch it would be more the "tone", how it is asked, rather than the actual words. Imagining myself being a rude Dutch waiter, the rudest I could ask it in Dutch would probably by just saying "Ja?" (as in, Yes) in a grumpy tone. But if I say the same thing in a friendly way, it would probably be just fine for most occasions.
  - xxxdarrenxxx 9y ago
    I might have the answer.. What do you want Equates to Wat wilt u hebben (formal). Wat wil je hebben (informal) The subtle difference lies in "u" instead of "je". Both are equally translated to "you" in english and saying 'you' to both friends and say business partners bares no difference in either meaning or etiquette. You simply deal with it in a different form. In the Netherlands however it's considered bad etiquette to freely interchange these forms. If a child says 'je' to an adult/elder instead of 'u' almost every parent will correct their child and ask to rephrase it with the proper form.