Can someone explain the reasons behind these differences between Americans and Brits?

[kurstytemple]

I've noticed that Americans greet people often with, 'hey, what are you doing?' even when it's completely clear what the person is doing, ie, picking them up from the airport, bumping into them shopping. As opposed to the British greeting, 'hi how are you?'

Also Americans can say bye ONCE on the telephone yet us British folk seem to say bye about 1 million times repeatedly whilst hanging up the phone. For example, Americans - 'it was good speaking to you, bye'. Brits - 'it was good speaking to you, okay, you too, okay, bye, bye, bye, bye, byeeeee, bye, bu-bye, byeeeee'. What is that all about?

Additionally, I've been watching a lot of teen mom 2 and the court system over there just seems so much more straightforward and fair. Not sure if that's an accurate representation. But for instance, a person can go directly to the court for custody arrangements instead of all the faffing about before getting to that point, seems to be easier to get protection orders from someone and seems to be a bit more lenient with young people, making deals with them to ensure that certain convictions don't go on their record hence not making them unemployable. I still have to declare a breach of the peace I got at 18 pissed as a fart.

Anyway there's my ramblings. Anyone else noticed this or care to explain why the differences? Or point out any of their own for me to ponder

@mathanxiety

American craft (knitting, quilting etc) videos on YouTube don't screech but always rabbit on too much about irrelevant stuff.

Perhaps to establish rapport with the audience? To give a sense of the speaker's personality? Most of these people are amateurs hoping to become a 'presence' online, to turn their YouTube hobby into money, and sometimes they get the chit chat wrong, but you can always fast forward.

I do.

@Terhou

The comment about the greeting made me laugh. The UK version is also weird! "How are you?" yet said as almost a rhetorical question instead of "hello". What's wrong with "hello"? grin Almost everybody I know who has moved to the UK has been baffled by this, being asked a question that nobody wants an answer to as a greeting

And yet it's fairly widespread. Look, for instance at the French "Ca va?", the Spanish "Como vas?" and the German "Wie Geht's?"

Yes, but they genuinely are asking how you are. It's not rhetorical.

@lazylinguist

*Some British language is quite hyperbolic to American ears, for example ordinary things are called "brilliant" all the time*

Not sure how that's more hyperbolic than the American habit of calling everything 'awesome' tbh. I mean... inspiring awe sounds like quite a big deal.

Hahaa that's one of the funniest comments on this thread. Of all cultures I'm even a little familiar with the US is the winner in terms of a) exaggeration, and; b) rudeness.

@waterlego

Where I am (SE England) ‘How are you?’ Is used as a follow up to Hello/Hi/All right? It’s not rhetorical- we actually answer it, but the convention is to keep the answer brief and positive.

Eg

‘Hi, how are you?’
‘Fine thanks, how are you?’
‘Fine thanks. Did you watch the match last night?’

Exactly: the only acceptable answer is "fine". So it's not a genuine question. It is meant as a greeting before conversation begins. People use it even with people they barely know at all and are not remotely interested in hearing how they actually are. If they happened not to be "fine" and answered the question with an honest explanation the British person would be horrified and not know what to do. It is culturally understood that this is just a greeting, with the formula you described which should not be deviated from unless with very close friends. Almost everyone I know who has moved here from abroad has mentioned how baffling this was at first. Effectively it's used to replace "Bonjour" or "Guten tag" not " ça va?" or "Wie geht's?" etc.

...the initial verbal exchanges with the Housewives and those in customer service comes over as really insincere.

Or maybe some British people are far too cynical and suspicious?

the initial verbal exchanges with the Housewives and those in customer service comes over as really insincere.
Or maybe some British people are far too cynical and suspicious?

But surely the server/receptionist/sales assistant isn't interested in your life and how your day's going? The customer always seems to repeat the same question back without going into any detail so it must just be a pleasantry.

The greeting where I'm from is 'now then' or just 'orite'

But surely the server/receptionist/sales assistant isn't interested in your life and how your day's going? The customer always seems to repeat the same question back without going into any detail so it must just be a pleasantry.

Not always. Depends on the region like most things and many customers (depending on how it is asked) will go into detail. I’ve worked those jobs in the States and do in the U.K. and I usually find out a lot about customers because I am interested and ask questions. I know for some customers it’s the only bit of human interaction they may get and many like having that nice bit of conversation and I enjoy giving it. I grew up in the Midwest and it’s relatively normal and the neighbourhood I work in (live and work in the SE) it is too. It’s probably why we don’t have the same issues with the public that I often read about here.

I'm on Duolingo and am getting exposed to more US vocabulary than usual. Whilst they are gradually improving, it's still annoying to get marked as wrong for using terminology that's perfectly valid in UK English. It amuses me that they are so delicate about loos that they insist on calling them bathrooms or restrooms, even when they are rooms with no baths and no-one rests in them.

@miltonj

The greeting where I'm from is 'now then' or just 'orite'

Are you from Sheffield or, at least Yorkshire?

@Terhou

I'm on Duolingo and am getting exposed to more US vocabulary than usual. Whilst they are gradually improving, it's still annoying to get marked as wrong for using terminology that's perfectly valid in UK English. It amuses me that they are so delicate about loos that they insist on calling them bathrooms or restrooms, even when they are rooms with no baths and no-one rests in them.

I get this. At least they have stopped saying holiday rather than vacation is wrong. You still can't say handbag rather than purse.

I'm on Duolingo and am getting exposed to more US vocabulary than usual. Whilst they are gradually improving, it's still annoying to get marked as wrong for using terminology that's perfectly valid in UK English. It amuses me that they are so delicate about loos that they insist on calling them bathrooms or restrooms, even when they are rooms with no baths and no-one rests in them.

It would be the same if Duolingo was a British App. My IPhone is under U.K. English and it corrects American spellings or flags American words as errors. Nothing about being precious.

‘Effectively it's used to replace "Bonjour" or "Guten tag" not " ça va?" or "Wie geht's?" etc.’

I don’t think this is the case. There are a few different answers you can give to how are you to imply a range of different feelings, and the same is true in French. You are not being invited in French to give a really in-depth answer.

Answers to How are you include-mustn’t grumble (everything is bad but let’s not talk about it), I will tell you later (massive drama, we will talk in private), really great (I could dance for joy) and so on.

It is not the case that you can only say fine, neither is the case that you can make the whole conversation about you at an early stage. And the same applies in French - there is a narrow range of acceptable responses.

Flying cats and foxes!!!? No wonder you lock yourselves away 😂😂

@phoenixrosehere

But surely the server/receptionist/sales assistant isn't interested in your life and how your day's going? The customer always seems to repeat the same question back without going into any detail so it must just be a pleasantry.

Not always. Depends on the region like most things and many customers (depending on how it is asked) will go into detail. I’ve worked those jobs in the States and do in the U.K. and I usually find out a lot about customers because I am interested and ask questions. I know for some customers it’s the only bit of human interaction they may get and many like having that nice bit of conversation and I enjoy giving it. I grew up in the Midwest and it’s relatively normal and the neighbourhood I work in (live and work in the SE) it is too. It’s probably why we don’t have the same issues with the public that I often read about here.

I think that this is very much a big cultural difference in the UK and the US that many British people don't understand. There are so many posts on MN, for example, about the "fake" friendliness of customer service is in the US. It's not fake, certainly not where I live in the Southern US. It is very much a cultural thing to engage with people in most settings, including all sorts of transactions. I think this is generally true for most parts of the country, but especially true for the Midwest and the South.

It's not fake, certainly not where I live in the Southern US. It is very much a cultural thing to engage with people in most settings, including all sorts of transactions. I think this is generally true for most parts of the country, but especially true for the Midwest and the South.

Yes. My maternal and paternal grandfather were from the South and I still have many relatives there. Grandma’s motto was ”You catch more flies with honey than vinegar”.

@CaptainMyCaptain I most certainly am from Yorkshire. East Yorkshire. Have lived in Sheffield too, they say 'orayt' rather than orite 😅 and up chesterfield way it's oreet or even just 'reet'!

We have a framed quote on the wall . 'it'll be reyt'.

But surely the server/receptionist/sales assistant isn't interested in your life and how your day's going?

Strange that a desire to establish a human connection provokes such incredulity.

But surely the server/receptionist/sales assistant isn't interested in your life and how your day's going? The customer always seems to repeat the same question back without going into any detail so it must just be a pleasantry.

Why wouldn't they be interested?

@Summerfun54321

I travelled around the US for a while. I think Brits have more in common with Europeans than with US citizens. They speak the same language as us but are culturally different in so many ways (massive generalisation I know). Took me ages to realise that “how are you doing” didn’t require an answer about how I was actually doing! Never heard anyone use the greeting “what are you doing” though 😄

I had people genuinely shocked when I in return asked how their day was going and actually was interested in an answer.

Granted I’m not very far into the thread so this may have been corrected but HerRoyalNotness that is absolutely untrue! A police officer MUST inform the parents of any juvenile arrested.

ZZTop where do you live?! The same state as me?

I guess I have said “what are you up to” (or “whatcha up to” to be precise”) before, but I don’t ask people what they’re doing unless I’m confused about what they’re doing 😂

I usually just say hi or how’s it going. It was just as confusing to me when people from the UK would ask if I was alright or say they hoped I was alright...of course I am, why wouldn’t I be?! But I got used to it.

I work at a liquor store and I ask people how they are. I wouldn’t say I’m as interested in the answer as I would be a close friend etc, but I wouldn’t say I’m disinterested in the answer, either.

My state is known for being quite cold and I only really need AC about 6 weeks to a few months out of the year, but I’d hate to be without it. It gets over 35 your temp and is miserably humid. I don’t have central AC yet (though I’d love it) and make do with window units.

The washing thing is really funny. In my part of semi rural England, you'd be judged harshly for never hanging your washing out. 50% of my work chat is how early everyone get up to hang their washing out and "your towels will dry in no time today, Sue"

My friend moved to a gated community where they're not allowed to have their washing outside. I just thought it was bizarre, surely you don't want a community monsters that don't hang their washing out!

of monsters