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 Sat Jul 15, 2006 15:54 pm Next Monday |
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Hi Jamie
I understood what you meant and know exactly what kind of person you're referring to. But the temptation to poke a little fun at the "East Coast elitist" idea was simply too great. There was just this knee-jerk reaction to stick up for the "home team"... 
Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English |
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Yankee
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Jamie (K)
I'm a Communicator ;-)
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Yankee
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| Sat Jul 15, 2006 17:41 pm Inclusive/miffed |
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| Jamie (K) wrote: | Of course you can say and write it, but it sounds very official and gives a very impersonal tone to the statement. It can make one sound a little bit like an angry math teacher. That's the feeling I get from it, anyway.
Of course, if you write it in an official statement, that's perfectly okay, but it just doesn't sound friendly when you say it. It's similar to this: If you went to the YMCA and saw a sign that said, "All members must swipe their membership cards before entering the facility," that would strike you as normal. But if you walked in and forgot to swipe your card, would you like it if the clerk at the desk called behind you, "All members must swipe their membership cards before entering the facility"? No. It sounds unfriendly. He should say, "Uh, ma'am? I think you forgot to swipe your card." |
The word ‘inclusive’ may seem a bit formal. Now, as to make you sound unfriendly or like an angry math teacher, you’ll allow me to have my doubts! I agree, though, that it is used more in business or administrative English than in informal, everyday conversation. Nobody has claimed otherwise.
Your swipe card example was good! I think we all agree that spoken and signpost English are two different languages.
| Jamie wrote: | | What's British about it? North Americans use that expression all the time. It predates most of the English settlement of the continent, so it probably came here with the settlers. |
I wonder why it sounds more British than American to me. Funny, isn’t it?
This link has an interesting article on the term 'miffed':
http://www.randomhouse.com/wotd/index.pperl?date=19991028 |
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Conchita
Language Coach
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Posts: 2702
Location: Madrid, Spain
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| Sat Jul 15, 2006 19:06 pm Inclusive/miffed |
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| Conchita wrote: | | The word ‘inclusive’ may seem a bit formal. Now, as to make you sound unfriendly or like an angry math teacher, you’ll allow me to have my doubts! I agree, though, that it is used more in business or administrative English than in informal, everyday conversation. Nobody has claimed otherwise. |
Hi Conchita
It's funny about the word inclusive. I know the Germans use it in German. But, in English, it sounds slightly odd to me (for the date of return), too, although I generally don't argue against it in a written business context.
Interesting link! Thanks!
Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English |
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Yankee
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| Sat Jul 15, 2006 21:48 pm Words |
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Hi Yankee,
Now for pete's sake don't you start getting complexes - please! Words is a game of pick and mix.You takes your pick and who cares who said it first or whether it came from the Chinese Emperor or Tony Blair. No cancel that second name. He couldn't find an original word if it stood up and bit him.
Alan
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Alan
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| Sat Jul 15, 2006 22:03 pm Word |
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Now Amy what you been and gone and done? There's me responding and calm as you like you go and delete what I'm referring to. That's a bit off, what?
Alan
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Alan
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| Sat Jul 15, 2006 22:18 pm Next Monday |
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Huh??? Did I delete something?
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Amy
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Amy
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ESL teacher, translator, and a native speaker of American English |
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Yankee
I'm a Communicator ;-)
Joined: 16 Apr 2006
Posts: 7443
Location: Northeast US
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| Sat Jul 15, 2006 22:45 pm Encore! |
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Encore! Encore!
(Thanks all for making me laugh!) |
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Conchita
Language Coach
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Location: Madrid, Spain
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