English Language - what "Does your head in" ??

[thirdcrank]

Just seen another professionally liveried tranny with a list of services offered, including

Builders cleans

[Wilhelmus]

.

[Cowsham]

People saying "Sorry ? " when they really mean " what do you mean" or " I didn't quite get that can you repeat please ?" Or I don't believe you " or " I can't believe what I'm hearing "

Which is it?

[Audax67]

Sorry, but it's sorry, i.e. it's shorthand for a whole sentence that doesn't need saying because the listener can supply the rest. Doing so leaves a certain diplomatic uncertainty as to what the quasi-apologizer means, thus potentially avoiding strife.

Sorry about that.

(Personally, I prefer y'what?)

[Jdsk]

Sorry, but it's sorry, i.e. it's shorthand for a whole sentence that doesn't need saying because the listener can supply the rest. Doing so leaves a certain diplomatic uncertainty as to what the quasi-apologizer means, thus potentially avoiding strife.

Yes, it's a compressed courtesy.

Of course, as with any usage, it can be overdone.

Jonathan

[thirdcrank]

If I think back to my childhood, saying "sorry" was a sarcastic version of "hard luck."

Round here, out-of-service buses have the message "Sorry - out of service" which has no sense of regret. Similarly - "Sorry for any inconvenience."

[Mick F]

The busses round here used to say, "Sorry - Out of Service" and I often complained to myself that the driver isn't sorry in the slightest!

These days, they just say, "Out of Service".
This is the correct message and is succinct and to the point.

[Cowsham]

Sorry, but it's sorry, i.e. it's shorthand for a whole sentence that doesn't need saying because the listener can supply the rest. Doing so leaves a certain diplomatic uncertainty as to what the quasi-apologizer means, thus potentially avoiding strife.

Sorry about that.

(Personally, I prefer y'what?)

What?

[sjs]

The busses round here used to say, "Sorry - Out of Service" and I often complained to myself that the driver isn't sorry in the slightest!

But it was the bus that was sorry, not the driver.

[Jdsk]

The busses round here used to say, "Sorry - Out of Service" and I often complained to myself that the driver isn't sorry in the slightest!

These days, they just say, "Out of Service".
This is the correct message and is succinct and to the point.

Why do you think that the message on a bus is from the driver rather than the operator?

Thanks

Jonathan

[Slowtwitch]

A local hairdressing salon has a professionally printed sign outside proclaiming that the proprietor is 'formally' of another well-known salon in the town. This raises the question (note: it does NOT beg it) of whether it is the responsibility of a sign printer to point out such errors in commissioned work. Always assuming their English is any better than that of their customers.

I think sign writers may occasionally get a good laugh at their clients expense. Probably an in trade joke

[kylecycler]

Yay, just came across a new word: 'linkrot'. Applies to forum archives where a link no longer works, the worst offender being Photobucket photos which are no longer visible or 'watermarked', but some links inevitably just disappear over time. Hasn't particularly plagued this forum but I do rather like the word.

[Paulatic]

I did rather well in University Challenge last night. Answered more than two
Dismayed to discover the word perquisite has been lost. Not a single student knew what 'perk' was short for.

[kylecycler]

I did rather well in University Challenge last night. Answered more than two
Dismayed to discover the word perquisite has been lost. Not a single student knew what 'perk' was short for.

This student didn't either!

[thirdcrank]

I did rather well in University Challenge last night. Answered more than two :lol:
Dismayed to discover the word perquisite has been lost. Not a single student knew what 'perk' was short for.

This student didn't either! :lol:

There's a coincidence. I nearly used the word in the in the Boris Johnson thread yesterday - and I can't remember why I didn't. :oops: