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| Is "what?" rude? |
| Yes, very |
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16% |
[ 6 ] |
| A little perhaps, but nothing to go nuts about |
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54% |
[ 20 ] |
| No |
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29% |
[ 11 ] |
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| Total Votes : 37 |
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Message |
SPINOZA
Joined: 10 Jun 2005
Location: $eoul
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 Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 1:27 am Post subject: Is "what?" rude? |
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"What?" is something we can say to a friend or family member, but to a stranger or in a more formal context, we must use "pardon?", "pardon me?", "excuse me?" or "sorry?"....right?
I understand why EFL learners say "what?" because it's one syllable and easy, but I hate it. I don't take at all kindly to being the recipient of substandard manners by people of Johnny Foreigner persuasion. A European, like a Spaniard or a German, might get away with it, but a Korean? No chance.
To make matters worse, I hear NSETs saying it to kids in class! Savages.
I tell Koreans that in the West, we are taught as children that "what?" sometimes is not appropriate and, unsurprisingly, this is usually new information. |
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idonojacs
Joined: 07 Jun 2007
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| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 1:44 am Post subject: |
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| Sure, but who cares? He's a fine second baseman. |
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riley
Joined: 08 Feb 2003
Location: where creditors can find me
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| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 2:18 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| Sure, but who cares? He's a fine second baseman. |
Who isn't on second, he's on first! |
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flakfizer
Joined: 12 Nov 2004
Location: scaling the Cliffs of Insanity with a frayed rope.
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| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 2:24 am Post subject: |
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| riley wrote: |
| Quote: |
| Sure, but who cares? He's a fine second baseman. |
Who isn't on second, he's on first! |
I don't give a darn. |
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flakfizer
Joined: 12 Nov 2004
Location: scaling the Cliffs of Insanity with a frayed rope.
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| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 2:26 am Post subject: |
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| Seriously though, yes, it is rude. I think I tend to say, "I'm sorry," when I don't hear what someone said. |
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chris_J2
Joined: 17 Apr 2006
Location: From Brisbane, Au.
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| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 2:40 am Post subject: What |
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Depends very much on the context.
"Excuse me, but what did you just say?" is a bit more gentile than WTF! |
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Ya-ta Boy
Joined: 16 Jan 2003
Location: Established in 1994
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| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 2:51 am Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
A European, like a Spaniard or a German, might get away with it, but a Korean? No chance.
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Maybe the Koreans sense your dislike of them and are responding rudely on purpose. |
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IlIlNine
Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Location: Gunpo, Gyonggi, SoKo
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| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 2:59 am Post subject: |
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Similarly '뭐?' Isn't exactly the height of politeness.
I don't see why Koreans would have a hard time understanding... |
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SuperHero
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Location: Superhero Hideout
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| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 3:11 am Post subject: |
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| What?!? |
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SuperHero
Joined: 10 Dec 2003
Location: Superhero Hideout
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| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 3:12 am Post subject: |
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| What?!? |
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K-in-C
Joined: 27 Mar 2003
Location: Heading somewhere
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| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 4:00 am Post subject: Vote No to What |
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| Do you use a question mark with 'pardon me'? |
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IlIlNine
Joined: 15 Jun 2005
Location: Gunpo, Gyonggi, SoKo
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| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 4:58 am Post subject: |
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I like exclaimations!
PARDON ME!!!!! |
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bejarano-korea
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 4:59 am Post subject: Re: Is "what?" rude? |
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| SPINOZA wrote: |
"What?" is something we can say to a friend or family member, but to a stranger or in a more formal context, we must use "pardon?", "pardon me?", "excuse me?" or "sorry?"....right?
I understand why EFL learners say "what?" because it's one syllable and easy, but I hate it. I don't take at all kindly to being the recipient of substandard manners by people of Johnny Foreigner persuasion. A European, like a Spaniard or a German, might get away with it, but a Korean? No chance.
To make matters worse, I hear NSETs saying it to kids in class! Savages.
I tell Koreans that in the West, we are taught as children that "what?" sometimes is not appropriate and, unsurprisingly, this is usually new information. |
In 'polite' circles, the term 'pardon' is seen as naff and members of the
higher orders in the UK use the word 'what' when conversing with each other.
And you might think you can fool the Americans on the board with your
'I'm English and thus refined and all foreigners are uncultured savages'
but you are from manches-tor the biggest chav toilet in Western Europe... they don't say 'what' or 'pardon' in manches-tor this is how they would ask someone to repeat themselves.
'ey mate, yoh wot mate, wot yoh say mate, giz a quid mate, i've lost me busfare to glossop mate, ey sound mate, wot yoh say mate etc'
Probably you've been out of the country for a bit Spinoza, but I reckon a sunburnt pig, never mind someone of the johnny foreigner persuasion could teach the average Mancunian shytehawk a few lessons in manners and decency!  |
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Big_Bird
Joined: 31 Jan 2003
Location: Sometimes here sometimes there...
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| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 5:25 am Post subject: |
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He said "Captain" I said "Wot"
Listen to that to 'ear 'ow to say "Wot" proppa...
haha, I di'n't know SPIN was a manc! I shall read every one of his posts with a manc accent from now on.  |
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bejarano-korea
Joined: 13 Dec 2006
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| Posted: Sun Aug 26, 2007 5:40 am Post subject: |
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| Big_Bird wrote: |
He said "Captain" I said "Wot"
Listen to that to 'ear 'ow to say "Wot" proppa...
haha, I di'n't know SPIN was a manc! I shall read every one of his posts with a manc accent from now on. |
Well he supports Man U, so he is probably from Guildford, BB.  |
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