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> We are poor at expressing gratitude and affection This is not exclusively (or even originally) an American thing. The author makes the same mistake he compla

> We are poor at expressing gratitude and affection This is not exclusively (or even originally) an American thing. The author makes the same mistake he complains about: it's not all about America! (Corollary: do not blame the Americans for what the British are actually responsible!) Apparently we inherited "phatic" conversation from the same people we took our language from. For example, in German, unlike in English, there is no word for "small talk": http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13545386 http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13545386

wheels 14y ago
"Small talk" is commonly used as a loan phrase in modern German. One might as well say that American English has no word for the first year of school. "Quatschen" is also pretty close to the meaning of "small talk" (with a slightly more negative / playful connotation -- "blabbing"): http://dict.leo.org/?lp=ende&search=quatschen http://dict.leo.org/?lp=ende&search=quatschen
saraid216 14y ago
...he wrote an article exclusively about America... why exactly would he discuss the failings of other countries?
- bluekeybox 14y ago
  Because it may help to understand where one comes from to understand where one is going.
andyl 14y ago
Visit scandanavia, germany, holland, britain. On the warmth/openness scale, they feel similar to America (at least to me). Go a bit farther south (belgium/france/italy/spain) and people open up more. The persians I know are warmer still. I don't see these differences as better/worse - you can be perfectly happy in any of these cultures.
GFKjunior 14y ago
That struck me as odd, like the author has not really traveled extensively. I spent some time in Sweden recently and was surprised by the the lack of warmth even by the customer service workers. I've been to several countries that do not "express gratitude and affection" and don't see it as an exclusive US trait. It seems like his only travel experience is with west/southern europe and south america.

wheels 14y ago

"Small talk" is commonly used as a loan phrase in modern German. One might as well say that American English has no word for the first year of school. "Quatschen" is also pretty close to the meaning of "small talk" (with a slightly more negative / playful connotation -- "blabbing"): http://dict.leo.org/?lp=ende&search=quatschen http://dict.leo.org/?lp=ende&search=quatschen

saraid216 14y ago

...he wrote an article exclusively about America... why exactly would he discuss the failings of other countries?

bluekeybox 14y ago
Because it may help to understand where one comes from to understand where one is going.

andyl 14y ago

Visit scandanavia, germany, holland, britain. On the warmth/openness scale, they feel similar to America (at least to me). Go a bit farther south (belgium/france/italy/spain) and people open up more. The persians I know are warmer still. I don't see these differences as better/worse - you can be perfectly happy in any of these cultures.

GFKjunior 14y ago

That struck me as odd, like the author has not really traveled extensively. I spent some time in Sweden recently and was surprised by the the lack of warmth even by the customer service workers. I've been to several countries that do not "express gratitude and affection" and don't see it as an exclusive US trait. It seems like his only travel experience is with west/southern europe and south america.