der regen Fraulein?

[tarzanontarmazepam]

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13545386

So we discover that the Germans don't do small talk. We Brits 'feign interest in someone's welfare..' the report goes on to say. We 'simulate' concern. 'how are you'?, by taking that quite literally we might think someone cares about us, but of course they couldn't really care less, an informal greeting forged out of courteosy and the British example of wasting oxygen in 'small talk'.

I shouldn't mention the war, but perhaps that small talk played its part in keeping British spirits alive? Or does it serve no purpose whatsoever?



...and not forgetting Basil's suppressed anger amidst a sea of agonising 'trivia'.

[riotgrrl]

In recognition that 'how are you?' is not a genuine question, the late Kurt Cobain used to answer that question by saying "I hate myself and I want to die."

I tried copying him for a while, but people seemed to think I was being a little odd, rather than recognising that I was simply subverting societal norms.

So I stopped, and now say 'fine thanks' just like everybody else.

[alanseago]

Germans say "vie gehts?" French, "Comment ça va" Scots, "How yer bum reeks" etc. Everyone has their rhetorical enquiry and false reply.
I forgot "Anyung haship nika", in Korea, I can't remember the reply.

[Weyland]

May 26, 2011 11:41:17 GMT @tarzanontarmazepam said:

www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-13545386

So we discover that the Germans don't do small talk. We Brits 'feign interest in someone's welfare..' the report goes on to say. We 'simulate' concern. 'how are you'?, by taking that quite literally we might think someone cares about us, but of course they couldn't really care less, an informal greeting forged out of courteosy and the British example of wasting oxygen in 'small talk'.

I shouldn't mention the war, but perhaps that small talk played its part in keeping British spirits alive? Or does it serve no purpose whatsoever?



...and not forgetting Basil's suppressed anger amidst a sea of agonising 'trivia'.

It's just the customary English [sic] xenophobia, insititutional whingeing, and general ignorance of other cultures.

Just imagine if the Germans had a tantrum over the continual nonsense about them in our media, and declared war. We wouldn't last a week.

Nuclear weapons, you say. Forget it. The Yanks wouldn't let us use them.

[riotgrrl]

May 26, 2011 13:59:22 GMT alanseago said:

Germans say "vie gehts?" French, "Comment ça va" Scots, "How yer bum reeks" etc. Everyone has their rhetorical enquiry and false reply.
I forgot "Anyung haship nika", in Korea, I can't remember the reply.

Eh . . Scots don't say 'how yer bum reeks' . . that would be absurd.

I think you're thinking of the genial good wish in the phrase:

"Lang may your lum reek'.

Your lum is your chimney, and reek is smoke, and the wish is for continued prosperity such that you always have a fire in your grate.

[tarzanontarmazepam]

May 26, 2011 12:37:43 GMT @riotgrrl said:

In recognition that 'how are you?' is not a genuine question, the late Kurt Cobain used to answer that question by saying "I hate myself and I want to die."

I tried copying him for a while, but people seemed to think I was being a little odd, rather than recognising that I was simply subverting societal norms.

So I stopped, and now say 'fine thanks' just like everybody else.

...someone just asked me 'how you doing mate?'...I felt like saying 'do you really care?', but I succumbed to the obligatory 'fine mate how's yourself?' to which he replied 'not bad at all mate.'

Having said that most of us are 'okay' most of the time. I again repeat the story of the homeless tramp living in a derelict subway in some lower part of Manhattan...a film crew making a documentary about New York's homeless ventured down to his dark world and found him frying sausages in an old pan over a low flame of a camping stove. He supped beer from a can and they asked how he was doing...he looked at the camera and replied ...'life don't get much better than this.'

[aubrey]

I never know whether the Dr asking "How are you?" when they see me is just the usual traditional greeting or a genuine question. I usually say ok, and then contradict myself by saying what's wrong with me, why I've gone to see him. (That is unless he's called me for a drugs review. Then it's just "ok.")

[jean]

I am pondering what to make of the extra information here:

House, who married a Scouser - a native of Liverpool - gives an example from her own experience.

She would tell her husband to bring something from another part of the house - without the British lardings of "would you mind...?" or "could you do me a favour...?"

He would hear this as an abrupt - and rude - command.

Am also pondering


der regen Fraulein

[alanseago]

Gute ponderung!


Ich werde meinen Mantel!

[riotgrrl]

Alan, see your tagline:

Cet animal est méchant, si on l'attaque il se défendre.


Should it not be . . il se defend?

[riotgrrl]

And if not, why not.

[alanseago]

Quite right, I have never noticed it in all this time.

e and a are very close on an AZERTY keyboard.

[everso]

I don't know what I'd do if I were forced to use an AZERTY keyboard. I wouldn't be able to touch type for a kick off.

[everso]

I rather like the British small-talk. I like our understatement too. In fact I like being British.

So there.

[riotgrrl]

May 26, 2011 16:42:46 GMT alanseago said:

Quite right, I have never noticed it in all this time.

e and a are very close on an AZERTY keyboard.

Ah, you've changed it to defendra now. That makes better sense I think.

I'm very proud of myself for noticing this. I didn't know that I was making much progress with my French despite my fortnightly tutorials (did you know the French call a fortnight a fifteener? Weirdos.) but maybe some of it is seeping in!

[riotgrrl]

May 26, 2011 17:32:58 GMT everso said:

I rather like the British small-talk. I like our understatement too. In fact I like being British.

So there.

I don't like being British one little bit.

But I do like our island's wonderful and pointless way with small talk. Although it's very frustrating. We can spend hours in company and discuss nothing meaningful at all.

I also like our 'please' and 'thank yous'. Next time you go into a shop for a simple transaction like buying a newspaper or a packet of fags, count the number of unnecessary 'pleases' and 'thank yous' that you and the shopkeeper say. It's hilarious, but in a kind of nice way.

[jean]

But the thing that's missing is what to say after 'Thank you'.

It seems the only option we've got is 'you're welcome', and that's not British, it's AMERICAN!

[riotgrrl]

May 27, 2011 12:23:16 GMT jean said:

But the thing that's missing is what to say after 'Thank you'.

It seems the only option we've got is 'you're welcome', and that's not British, it's AMERICAN!

What's wrong with "Cheers" as the final sign-off?

[Weyland]

May 27, 2011 12:23:16 GMT jean said:

But the thing that's missing is what to say after 'Thank you'.

It seems the only option we've got is 'you're welcome', and that's not British, it's AMERICAN!

In Dutch they say Graag gedaan — Gladly done. Or Geen dank — <have a guess>.

Or: the Dutch themselves, but not me, would often say the Dutch equivalent of "if you please". Not unlike the German Bitte schön, I suppose.

And yet it's rare in Holland to say "please" when asking for something. As Catherine Tate might say, "What are they like?!"

[alanseago]

May 27, 2011 11:47:00 GMT @riotgrrl said:

May 26, 2011 16:42:46 GMT alanseago said:

Quite right, I have never noticed it in all this time.

e and a are very close on an AZERTY keyboard.

Ah, you've changed it to defendra now. That makes better sense I think.

I'm very proud of myself for noticing this. I didn't know that I was making much progress with my French despite my fortnightly tutorials (did you know the French call a fortnight a fifteener? Weirdos.) but maybe some of it is seeping in!

You need to take it at full speed and as much practice as possible. People may think you a little weird but remember what they say in the north.
'Plus tu pédales moins fort, moins t'avances plus vite".
My wife learned most of her pronunciation from French TV.