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Skitt
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 10:00 pm
Post subject: Helpful hints |
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From the latest issue of Harpers, (December, 2004):
From a guide intended to help foreigners understand the idiosyncrasies of
British English, found by a journalist for the Economist earlier this year
on an office wall in the European Court of Justice.
What they say: I'm sure it's my fault.
What is understood: It is his fault.
What they mean: It is your fault.
What they say: I'll bear it in mind.
What is understood: He will probably do it.
What they mean: I will do nothing about it.
What they say: I was a bit disappointed that...
What is understood: It doesn't really matter.
What they mean: I am most upset and cross.
What they say: By the way/incidentally...
What is understood: This is not very important.
What they mean: The primary purpose of our discussion is...
What they say: I hear what you say.
What is understood: He accepts my point of view
What they mean: I disagree and do not want to discuss it any further.
What they say: Correct me if I'm wrong.
What is understood: Tell me what you think.
What they mean: I know I'm right--please don't contradict me.
What they say: With the greatest respect...
What is understood: He is listening to me.
What they mean: I think you are wrong, or a fool.
What they say: That is an original point of view.
What is understood: He likes my ideas.
What they mean: You must be crazy!
What they say: Very interesting.
What is understood: He is impressed.
What they mean: I don't agree, or I don't believe you.
What they say: You must come over for dinner sometime.
What is understood: I will get an invitation soon.
What they mean: Not an invitation, just being polite.
What they say: Quite good.
What is understood: Quite good.
What they mean: A bit disappointing.
--
Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/
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Ben Zimmer
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 10:00 pm
Post subject: Re: Helpful hints |
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Skitt wrote:
| Quote: |
From the latest issue of Harpers, (December, 2004):
From a guide intended to help foreigners understand the idiosyncrasies of
British English, found by a journalist for the Economist earlier this year
on an office wall in the European Court of Justice.
[...]
What they say: Quite good.
What is understood: Quite good.
What they mean: A bit disappointing.
|
If only Bill Clinton had read this guide before telling David Dimbleby
that he thought John Kerry would be "quite a good President".
http://groups.google.com/groups?th=b36257f2cf280b99 |
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Mark Barratt
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 10:01 pm
Post subject: Re: Helpful hints |
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Skitt wrote:
| Quote: | From the latest issue of Harpers, (December, 2004):
From a guide intended to help foreigners understand the
idiosyncrasies of British English, found by a journalist for
the Economist earlier this year on an office wall in the
European Court of Justice.
What they say: I'm sure it's my fault.
What is understood: It is his fault.
What they mean: It is your fault.
What they say: I'll bear it in mind.
What is understood: He will probably do it.
What they mean: I will do nothing about it.
What they say: I was a bit disappointed that...
What is understood: It doesn't really matter.
What they mean: I am most upset and cross.
What they say: By the way/incidentally...
What is understood: This is not very important.
What they mean: The primary purpose of our discussion is...
What they say: I hear what you say.
What is understood: He accepts my point of view
What they mean: I disagree and do not want to discuss it any
further.
What they say: Correct me if I'm wrong.
What is understood: Tell me what you think.
What they mean: I know I'm right--please don't contradict me.
What they say: With the greatest respect...
What is understood: He is listening to me.
What they mean: I think you are wrong, or a fool.
What they say: That is an original point of view.
What is understood: He likes my ideas.
What they mean: You must be crazy!
What they say: Very interesting.
What is understood: He is impressed.
What they mean: I don't agree, or I don't believe you.
What they say: You must come over for dinner sometime.
What is understood: I will get an invitation soon.
What they mean: Not an invitation, just being polite.
What they say: Quite good.
What is understood: Quite good.
What they mean: A bit disappointing.
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Excellent. The first isn't always true, but I can't argue with
any of the others. Not all of them are exclusively British,
though, I think. Doesn't "With the greatest respect..." always
precede a disagreement?
--
Mark Barratt
Budapest
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Mike Lyle
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 10:01 pm
Post subject: Re: Helpful hints |
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Skitt wrote:
| Quote: | From the latest issue of Harpers, (December, 2004):
From a guide intended to help foreigners understand the
idiosyncrasies of British English, found by a journalist for the
Economist earlier this year on an office wall in the European Court
of Justice.
What they say: I'm sure it's my fault.
What is understood: It is his fault.
What they mean: It is your fault.
What they say: I'll bear it in mind.
What is understood: He will probably do it.
What they mean: I will do nothing about it.
What they say: I was a bit disappointed that...
What is understood: It doesn't really matter.
What they mean: I am most upset and cross.
What they say: By the way/incidentally...
What is understood: This is not very important.
What they mean: The primary purpose of our discussion is...
What they say: I hear what you say.
What is understood: He accepts my point of view
What they mean: I disagree and do not want to discuss it any
further.
What they say: Correct me if I'm wrong.
What is understood: Tell me what you think.
What they mean: I know I'm right--please don't contradict me.
What they say: With the greatest respect...
What is understood: He is listening to me.
What they mean: I think you are wrong, or a fool.
What they say: That is an original point of view.
What is understood: He likes my ideas.
What they mean: You must be crazy!
What they say: Very interesting.
What is understood: He is impressed.
What they mean: I don't agree, or I don't believe you.
What they say: You must come over for dinner sometime.
What is understood: I will get an invitation soon.
What they mean: Not an invitation, just being polite.
What they say: Quite good.
What is understood: Quite good.
What they mean: A bit disappointing.
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With, I think, the sole exception of the last one these translations
are spot-on. The last one is tricky, as it means sometimes what the
list says, and at other times "bloody magnificent".
Mike. |
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Sara Lorimer
Guest
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| Posted: Tue Nov 16, 2004 10:01 pm
Post subject: Re: Helpful hints |
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Skitt wrote:
| Quote: | From the latest issue of Harpers, (December, 2004):
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Oy! (It's Harper's. Or Harper's Magzine, if you want to make them
happy.)
--
SML |
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Skitt
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2004 2:00 am
Post subject: Re: Helpful hints |
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Sara Lorimer wrote:
| Quote: | Skitt wrote:
From the latest issue of Harpers, (December, 2004):
Oy! (It's Harper's. Or Harper's Magzine, if you want to make them
happy.)
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Darn it! I copied that from an e-mail I received. I should have corrected
it. (I don't read Harper's.)
--
Skitt (in Hayward, California)
www.geocities.com/opus731/ |
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Arcadian Rises
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2004 2:00 am
Post subject: Re: Helpful hints |
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| Quote: | From: que.sara.saraDELETE@gmail.com (Sara Lorimer)
Skitt wrote:
From the latest issue of Harpers, (December, 2004):
Oy! (It's Harper's. Or Harper's Magzine, if you want to make them
happy.)
|
That's one of the best illustrations of Skitt's Law.
Unless "Harper's Magzine" is actually the name of that publication and I hereby
made a fool of myself. |
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Sara Lorimer
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2004 2:00 am
Post subject: Re: Helpful hints |
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Arcadian Rises wrote:
| Quote: | From: que.sara.saraDELETE@gmail.com (Sara Lorimer)
Skitt wrote:
From the latest issue of Harpers, (December, 2004):
Oy! (It's Harper's. Or Harper's Magzine, if you want to make them
happy.)
That's one of the best illustrations of Skitt's Law.
|
Done while correcting Skitt, yet!
--
SML |
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Mark Barratt
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2004 2:00 am
Post subject: Re: Helpful hints |
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Sara Lorimer wrote:
| Quote: | Skitt wrote:
From the latest issue of Harpers, (December, 2004):
Oy! (It's Harper's. Or Harper's Magzine, if you want to make
them happy.)
|
Skitt's law strikes again. Didn't it used to be Harper's &
Queen's, or was that something else?
--
Mark Barratt
Budapest |
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Arcadian Rises
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2004 2:00 am
Post subject: Re: Helpful hints |
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| Quote: | From: que.sara.saraDELETE@gmail.com (Sara Lorimer)
Arcadian Rises wrote:
From: que.sara.saraDELETE@gmail.com (Sara Lorimer)
Skitt wrote:
From the latest issue of Harpers, (December, 2004):
Oy! (It's Harper's. Or Harper's Magzine, if you want to make them
happy.)
That's one of the best illustrations of Skitt's Law.
Done while correcting Skitt, yet!
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So I was right???
I wasn't sure, I thought it may be one of those tradenames, like Barbra, or
citibank. |
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Ray Heindl
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2004 2:01 am
Post subject: Re: Helpful hints |
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"Mark Barratt" <mark.barratt@enternet.hu> wrote:
| Quote: | Excellent. The first isn't always true, but I can't argue with
any of the others. Not all of them are exclusively British,
though, I think. Doesn't "With the greatest respect..." always
precede a disagreement?
|
There was a short thread in the Dilbert cartoon some time back where
somebody discovered that they could insult the pointy-haired boss at
will, as long as the insults were preceded by "With all due respect".
That's slightly more ambiguous than "with the greatest respect", as
"all due respect" could mean "no respect whatsoever".
--
Ray Heindl
(remove the Xs to reply to: xvortren-news@yaxhoo.com) |
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Gary G. Taylor
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2004 2:01 am
Post subject: Re: Helpful hints |
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Ray Heindl wrote:
| Quote: | "Mark Barratt" <mark.barratt@enternet.hu> wrote:
Excellent. The first isn't always true, but I can't argue with
any of the others. Not all of them are exclusively British,
though, I think. Doesn't "With the greatest respect..." always
precede a disagreement?
There was a short thread in the Dilbert cartoon some time back where
somebody discovered that they could insult the pointy-haired boss at
will, as long as the insults were preceded by "With all due respect".
That's slightly more ambiguous than "with the greatest respect", as
"all due respect" could mean "no respect whatsoever".
Standard way of telling a cop that he is a fucktard. |
--
Gary G. Taylor * Rialto, CA
gary at donavan dot org / http:// geetee dot donavan dot org
"The two most abundant things in the universe
are hydrogen and stupidity." --Harlan Ellison |
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Sara Lorimer
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2004 2:01 am
Post subject: Re: Helpful hints |
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Arcadian Rises wrote:
| Quote: | From: que.sara.saraDELETE@gmail.com (Sara Lorimer)
Arcadian Rises wrote:
From: que.sara.saraDELETE@gmail.com (Sara Lorimer)
Skitt wrote:
From the latest issue of Harpers, (December, 2004):
Oy! (It's Harper's. Or Harper's Magzine, if you want to make them
happy.)
That's one of the best illustrations of Skitt's Law.
Done while correcting Skitt, yet!
So I was right???
I wasn't sure, I thought it may be one of those tradenames, like Barbra, or
citibank.
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You were right. I made a beaut of a Skitt'slawism.
--
SML |
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Sara Lorimer
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2004 2:01 am
Post subject: Re: Helpful hints |
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Mark Barratt wrote:
| Quote: | Sara Lorimer wrote:
Skitt wrote:
From the latest issue of Harpers, (December, 2004):
Oy! (It's Harper's. Or Harper's Magzine, if you want to make
them happy.)
Skitt's law strikes again. Didn't it used to be Harper's &
Queen's, or was that something else?
|
The various American Harpers are related: Harper's Magazine, Harper's
Bazaar, Harper's Weekly, Harper and Row, Harper Collins, etc; I don't
know about the British Harpers. There were two brothers, John and James,
who started it all.
--
SML |
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Mike Lyle
Guest
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| Posted: Wed Nov 17, 2004 2:02 am
Post subject: Re: Helpful hints |
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Sara Lorimer wrote:
| Quote: | Mark Barratt wrote:
Sara Lorimer wrote:
Skitt wrote:
From the latest issue of Harpers, (December, 2004):
Oy! (It's Harper's. Or Harper's Magzine, if you want to make
them happy.)
Skitt's law strikes again. Didn't it used to be Harper's &
Queen's, or was that something else?
The various American Harpers are related: Harper's Magazine,
Harper's
Bazaar, Harper's Weekly, Harper and Row, Harper Collins, etc; I
don't
know about the British Harpers. There were two brothers, John and
James, who started it all.
|
HarperCollins, one word, two caps, is the British connection. Harper
took over Collins; and a black day it was for publishing, though I
suppose it represented an inevitable trend. The book as "product".
Mike. |
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