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yabsterr t1_j0ixfgc wrote

Reply to comment by Rysline in Lpt request-How to speak politely by Accomplished_Low_265

Interesting take you've got here.

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Rysline t1_j0iy532 wrote

I could maybe have phrased it better than “as quickly as possible in as few words as possible” because that makes people think about that office clip or something. I don’t mean people talk in broken sentences or grunts or anything but that English is a lot more blunt than most other languages for sure. No gendered words like Spanish or French, no tones like mandarin, no formal version of words like most Romance languages. English, comparatively, is a lot more focused on kinda just getting the message across.

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yabsterr t1_j0izp33 wrote

I got what you meant, and in a way 'our people' (the Dutch) are very much alike. We are fairly direct and just thank you ('bedankt' in Dutch) is enough to thank someone. You're welcome (alsjeblieft) is enough when you give something.

I think the alternative motives also play a role here. I just think it shouldn't be that way.

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shouldco t1_j0jkd2k wrote

I think it comes from being "extra polite" in English tends to mean some amount of flattery is getting thrown in. Which is also a great technique to start manipulating people. If someone comes up to me and says "excuse me sir, you look like a kind good hearted young man..." they aren't about to ask what subway stop they need to get off at they are about to tell me how their mother is sick and they need $10 for a bus home.

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