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British sarcasm 'lost on Americans'....

Posted: January 12th, 2019, 6:04 am
by Itsallaguess
Britons like to think they have a "special relationship" with the US, based on a common language and cultural, historical and political ties.

But, according to one of the UK's most respected polling companies, there's one chasm the English language can't always bridge - the British love of passive-aggressive statements.

In the words of YouGov, "half of Americans wouldn't be able to tell that a Briton is calling them an idiot".


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-46846467

Here's a chart from the above article, highlighting the chasm that's often found between the spoken word and the underlying meaning -

Image

Love it.....

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

Re: British sarcasm 'lost on Americans'....

Posted: January 12th, 2019, 7:46 am
by Dod101
Not sure that the title of your thread has much to do with it. I would say we Brits love understatement.

Dod

Re: British sarcasm 'lost on Americans'....

Posted: January 12th, 2019, 8:04 am
by Raptor
Yes, my many years of working in and for American companies, sarcasm was great as the majority hadn't a clue and it went straight over their heads. Even better when the audience was mixed as Europeans would get it immediately.

My best one was a couple of years after Falklands I was on a training course in Santa Clara and at the end of course meal I was introduced to a "new" member of the training team who had spent the last 10 years in Argentina. He started on about the Malvinas being part of Argentina and should be handed over, other Europeans and an Aussie waded in against him. It was obvious he was aiming the remarks at me. Then he made a big mistake in saying that 200 years before they were part of Argentina and therefore should be their''s, everyone was surprised when I agreed. Then carried on that taking that into account we should wind back all borders 200 years. That way US, Canada, India, Australia etc would be British. He missed the point completely and lost the "plot". Everyone thought it hilarious. His boss was not amused though and he lost his job. My company took them over shortly after, so I would have got rid of him anyway.

Raptor

Re: British sarcasm 'lost on Americans'....

Posted: January 12th, 2019, 8:46 am
by Itsallaguess
Dod101 wrote:
Not sure that the title of your thread has much to do with it. I would say we Brits love understatement.


Hi Dod,

The title of the thread doesn't at all contradict your second statement, so I'm at a loss as to the point you're trying to make here to be honest?

Cheers,

Itsallaguess

Re: British sarcasm 'lost on Americans'....

Posted: January 12th, 2019, 9:31 am
by Dod101
I am not going to argue with you just that there is a big difference between sarcasm and understatement (or irony). Anyway I enjoyed your post.

Dod

Re: British sarcasm 'lost on Americans'....

Posted: January 12th, 2019, 10:39 am
by TedSwippet
Itsallaguess wrote:The title of the thread doesn't at all contradict your second statement, so I'm at a loss as to the point you're trying to make here to be honest?

With the greatest respect, I hear what you say, and I would suggest that I almost agree.

:-)

Re: British sarcasm 'lost on Americans'....

Posted: January 12th, 2019, 11:54 am
by tjh290633
Not all Americans misunderstand. I once received a Fax from a Libyan Government organisation which I forwarded to a colleague over there, with the comment "I shall give it all the attention that it deserves". This was intercepted by the Finance Director who sent an immediate message "Under no circumstances have any communications with Libya, because the State Department has absolutely forbidden it".

As I said to my colleague, what did he think I was going to do? The colleague knew exactly what I meant. The other had, I think, had his sense of humour surgically removed.

TJH

Re: British sarcasm 'lost on Americans'....

Posted: January 12th, 2019, 5:47 pm
by chas49
TedSwippet wrote:
Itsallaguess wrote:The title of the thread doesn't at all contradict your second statement, so I'm at a loss as to the point you're trying to make here to be honest?

With the greatest respect, I hear what you say, and I would suggest that I almost agree.

:-)


I only have a few minor comments.

:)

Re: British sarcasm 'lost on Americans'....

Posted: January 12th, 2019, 6:47 pm
by Dod101
tjh290633 wrote:As I said to my colleague, what did he think I was going to do? The colleague knew exactly what I meant. The other had, I think, had his sense of humour surgically removed.


Two comments on that. My late wife came from the west coast of Scotland with a deal of Irish blood and used to say that we east coasters (I am not from Edinburgh but not that far away) had our sense of humour surgically removed at birth.

I am returning to Hong Kong for a visit shortly and I worked there for a long time. Most of my Chinese colleagues spoke good English but it was necessary to keep to literal statements otherwise it just got too complicated so when I returned to work in London I found it very strange to hear simple expressions like 'See you later' or 'Well that's knocked that on the head' because I was very inclined to take them literally!

I still do not think sarcasm is the right word for the subject of this thread.

Dod

Re: British sarcasm 'lost on Americans'....

Posted: January 14th, 2019, 12:22 pm
by sunnyjoe
Long ago, after my first business meeting in USA, I was advised by a colleague that I should not say "okay" in the meaningless continuity filler manner to which I had become accustomed in British conversation, because the Americans interpreted it as "he agrees with everything I said"

Re: British sarcasm 'lost on Americans'....

Posted: January 14th, 2019, 12:45 pm
by brightncheerful
During her recuperation, Mrs Bnc is watching episodes of a American film on tv. Last week, after I had spoken with her about something she said 'thank you for reaching out."

I am now having to remember when I next speak with her about the same subject to do so with my arms outstretched in front of me.

Re: British sarcasm 'lost on Americans'....

Posted: January 14th, 2019, 12:51 pm
by Watis
brightncheerful wrote:During her recuperation, Mrs Bnc is watching episodes of a American film on tv. Last week, after I had spoken with her about something she said 'thank you for reaching out."

I am now having to remember when I next speak with her about the same subject to do so with my arms outstretched in front of me.


'Reaching out' - ugh!

For me, this phrase always brings to mind a diseased and withered hand slowly moving towards me, index finger extended.

Sorry if you're having your lunch!

Watis

Re: British sarcasm 'lost on Americans'....

Posted: January 14th, 2019, 1:19 pm
by brightncheerful
American is a dialect of English.

Re: British sarcasm 'lost on Americans'....

Posted: January 14th, 2019, 3:43 pm
by kiloran
brightncheerful wrote:American is a dialect of English.

Spock: "It's english, Jim, but not as we know it"

--kiloran

Re: British sarcasm 'lost on Americans'....

Posted: January 14th, 2019, 4:47 pm
by Lootman
brightncheerful wrote:American is a dialect of English.

These days it would be more accurate to state that English is a dialect of American. In many countries it is American English that is taught in schools.

I am very sarcastic by nature but do not employ it when in the US as a snide sardonic remark is very likely to be taken literally, and then I feel like I've been mean. What Americans do find highly amusing is self-deprecation, presumably because nobody does that in the US where the norm is to big yourself up. Put yourself down and people think it's hilarious because it is so unexpected, And chicks dig it :)

Re: British sarcasm 'lost on Americans'....

Posted: January 16th, 2019, 11:46 pm
by DiamondEcho
Itsallaguess wrote:In the words of YouGov, "half of Americans wouldn't be able to tell that a Briton is calling them an idiot".Itsallaguess


Wow, aren't we so clever having a fraction of their liberty and GDP - clearly , woo-hoo! :lol:
More seriously, I find it odd how some Brits congratulate themselves on their humour, as if it's some private protected space, that foreigners are not allowed to enter into; and certainly 'can never understand'. IME almost no country outside the UK gets UK humour, the irony, double-entendres, and so on, but isn't that the point, it's coded and therein lies it's humour, to us, we join the final dots only in our heads.

Re: British sarcasm 'lost on Americans'....

Posted: January 17th, 2019, 8:30 am
by didds
probably derail here... do USAians have moire liberty than UKers? If so, in what way? (unless you mean they can carry guns I suppose).

didds

Re: British sarcasm 'lost on Americans'....

Posted: January 17th, 2019, 8:55 am
by Skotch
I happened to catch a bit of Andrew Marrs History of Modern Britain on BBC4 last night - at one point he was talking about UK troops fighting in Korea with the Americans. Apparently at one point, a British Troop Commander radio'ed to the American Base thet "We're in a bit of a pickle here" - essentially saying they were being pinned and mown down and suggesting that help be sent - this was completely misunderstood by the Americans who thought there was just a minor skirmish and warranted no help

Re: British sarcasm 'lost on Americans'....

Posted: January 17th, 2019, 12:25 pm
by TedSwippet
didds wrote:probably derail here... do USAians have more liberty than UKers?

Arguably, no. The Freedom House table for 2018 puts the UK at a freedom index of 94, compared with the US's 86 (a higher means more 'freedom' than a lower one). The associated report and methodology shows how Freedom House quantifies 'freedom'.