4 ms·

I'd love an example (or two) of a single sentence using two or three of these "niceties".

by floxy 3y ago

Detrytus 3y ago
I would love to give you some good examples, but if you could wait till tomorrow that would be great. Sorry for sneaky edit :-)
- floxy 3y ago
  So maybe it is just overly flowery language in general? How would you like to word that? - Tomorrow. - I'll give examples tomorrow. - I have good examples to give you tomorrow. ...Do you find the "extra" language is equally required in speech and text? I also wonder if there is a certain conservation of syllables across languages, maybe related to how fast our brains can process speech? And in some languages the syllables are needed for comprehension, and in other language there are "filler" words?
Cthulhu_ 3y ago
Your quote is one already; instead of saying "Give me an example or two", you don't even ask, you instead posit a problem, a thing you would like, without asking anyone in specific. It's indirect communication, and sometimes people get upset if their indirect question or their positing of a problem isn't responded with a "Here you go!". If you want something, go and find it. If you want someone else to provide it for you, ask. Or tell. But don't posit a problem and expect someone to fix it for you.
- trealira 3y ago
  It's interesting for me to have this pointed out. I've read posts from English speakers trying to learn Japanese complain about Japanese culture being very indirect and subtle, but the same complaint can be applied to our own culture. As a teenager, I stayed in Spain for a month living with a host couple, and I remember the wife telling me that I said "por favor" too much (like asking "could you please pass the salt?" at dinner) asked for things too much, and generally acted overly polite. For example, it's apparently more common in Spain to order food at restaurants like "Give me a coffee (please)" and not "I would like a coffee, please". All this was in Spanish; I'm just translating what we said into English.
- wuiheerfoj 3y ago
  ‘forgive me that I’m not fully understanding what you mean - but could you possibly give me an example or two to kick my brain into gear?’
  - floxy 3y ago
    Let me assure you, mealy-mouthed or saccharine phrases are not required for English.

I'd love an example (or two) of a single sentence using two or three of these "niceties".

by floxy 3y ago

I'd love an example (or two) of a single sentence using two or three of these "niceties".

I would love to give you some good examples, but if you could wait till tomorrow that would be great. Sorry for sneaky edit :-)

floxy 3y ago
So maybe it is just overly flowery language in general? How would you like to word that? - Tomorrow. - I'll give examples tomorrow. - I have good examples to give you tomorrow. ...Do you find the "extra" language is equally required in speech and text? I also wonder if there is a certain conservation of syllables across languages, maybe related to how fast our brains can process speech? And in some languages the syllables are needed for comprehension, and in other language there are "filler" words?

Cthulhu_ 3y ago

Your quote is one already; instead of saying "Give me an example or two", you don't even ask, you instead posit a problem, a thing you would like, without asking anyone in specific. It's indirect communication, and sometimes people get upset if their indirect question or their positing of a problem isn't responded with a "Here you go!". If you want something, go and find it. If you want someone else to provide it for you, ask. Or tell. But don't posit a problem and expect someone to fix it for you.

trealira 3y ago
It's interesting for me to have this pointed out. I've read posts from English speakers trying to learn Japanese complain about Japanese culture being very indirect and subtle, but the same complaint can be applied to our own culture. As a teenager, I stayed in Spain for a month living with a host couple, and I remember the wife telling me that I said "por favor" too much (like asking "could you please pass the salt?" at dinner) asked for things too much, and generally acted overly polite. For example, it's apparently more common in Spain to order food at restaurants like "Give me a coffee (please)" and not "I would like a coffee, please". All this was in Spanish; I'm just translating what we said into English.
wuiheerfoj 3y ago
‘forgive me that I’m not fully understanding what you mean - but could you possibly give me an example or two to kick my brain into gear?’
- floxy 3y ago
  Let me assure you, mealy-mouthed or saccharine phrases are not required for English.