IABU to hate "Can I get...."?

[tbtc20]

A colleague (English as first language) likes to adopt Americanisms into his speech.

His latest is to say e.g. "Can I get you to test this program" or "Can I get an account for our new starter".

I think he thinks it makes him sound cool.

Makes me wince.

Actually, the "can I get you to test..." sounds ok (although a bit informal), it's like saying "can I ask you to...".

Haven't RTFT. Has anyone mentioned 'my bad' yet?

I live in the US, can't say it's something I usually hear. Most people request
"One venti half caffe decaffe please" or " Yes, I would like one small coffee light, no sugar, please". Although, I think I have heard the " can I get" used in NYC..

That's a dead link 80s.

I agree with Pitiless Yank. I'm in the US. After one of these threads I actually did a bit of research at my local Starbucks. Nearly everyone said a version of "I would like." I think there was one "can I get" in there.

Makes me cringe. Surely its ' could I please have'.
Seen it on 'first dates' TV show many a time

So it's just television New Yorkers that say it then Yank & Seneca?

(Usually while adopting a cab-hailing stance/gesture/facial expression.)

80s -I think this link might work:

www.bbc.com/news/magazine-14201796

The list is fairly ridiculous though, because it is a list of perceived Americanisms compiled from e-mails sent in. I have lived here for. 50 years (my whole life), in several different parts of the country, and many of the terms/phrases listed are very uncommon.

Snap, Seneca...I'm in Starbucks..everyday at 8am..respectfully requesting my Blonde brew.

Hah! Gooseberry, are you referring to the show "Friends?"

It always infuriates me how ordinary people in American tv shows set in expensive cities have such large apartments!

I might be, I'm not sure. I'm searching my memory

No pressure, Goose

FIGURE IT OUT WITHIN 30 MINUTES OR THIS BUNNY GETS IT...

And by "gets it", I mean gets a lovely carrot. I would never hurt a bunny.

That list is more than just a bit xenophobic.

gooseberry I guess I don't watch much TV about New Yorkers so really can't say. I live in the South. It's usually "I'd like, etc." with some "how's your momma?" and "cute haircut, who's doing it now?" thrown in for good measure.

Secret Me, too. I also settle in with my laptop for an hour or so and get a bit of work done while also performing a bit of linguistic research for MN.

'on accident' grates with me, just because it reminds me of when my children were little and I was forever saying 'BY accident' and 'ON purpose'. It sounds childlike to my British ears. Same as 'on christmas'

Americans, and I speak for all 319 million of us, don't say "on accident."

The man who narrates cinema sins on youtube does!! And I love him, except for when he says on accident and then I feel the need to kill him. Which makes me sad. Find him and make him stop!

New starter?

That's brilliant, haven't heard that since I was at school a thousand years ago.

Do people honestly say it at work?

Seneca

Yes it's very common here in Ireland to say "Can i get" Rather than the correct "Can I have"
As a PP said lots of us speak English. Britain don't have a monopoly on the language
Us Irish should actually be speaking as gaeilge, not the Queen's English

My Irish friend says 'will I...' For 'shall/should I...' I love it! 'will I have a shower now?' I dunno, lovely, will you?'

I'm welsh. I've no place to talk about butchering the English language...

FIGURE IT OUT WITHIN 30 MINUTES OR THIS BUNNY GETS IT...

Oops was making up the bed and nearly missed tyhe deadline

Yes, on reflection I think Jennifer Aniston is partly culpable.

This thread did make me realize that I don't watch much TV that is set in NY anymore. My current favorites are The Good Wife (Chicago) and Madam Secretary (DC). And then all the British TV I watch, which DH refers to (affectionately, I assure y'all) as "English shit."

Orange-bearded mobile traffic reporters in Pennsylvania say it;

Does English shit mean Downton Abbey?