As Per My Last Email… How Many of These 20 Very British “Polite-isms” Do You Use?
A new study has revealed as many of 83 percent of Britons admit they avoid confrontation at all costs. And boffins from Trinity College London have revealed the 20 most common “polite-isms” wheeled out on a daily basis, and what they really mean, with “Oooh, could I just squeeze past you?”, rather than “get out of my way”, coming top.
More than a third (35 percent) are prone to typing out the classic, “As per my last email”, which actually means, “I told you this already”, while 30 percent prefer, “I hear what you’re saying, but…”, as opposed to the more direct, “I completely disagree with you.”
“Sounds fun, I’ll let you know”, translating to “I’m not coming” (45 percent), “I beg your pardon?” rather than, “what the hell did you just say?” (42 percent), “Sorry, I’m a bit busy right now”, to replace, “please just leave me alone” (41 percent) – and “No rush, when you have a minute”, meaning “Hurry up!”, are also common ways Brits express themselves in a well-mannered way.
90 percent agree that there are certain polite phrases that Brits use when trying to diffuse or get out of a situation, with a further 72 percent saying it is a very British trait. In fact, we utter an average of 14 “polite-isms” a day, with over four in ten (46 percent) admitting that they use them to be nice and avoid any unnecessary tension. One in two regularly use them in the office, while 43 percent drop them out around their friends.
Almost a third (29 percent) say polite-isms are better than being rude or passive aggressive, while a quarter (25 percent) admit they make them laugh – when said or heard.
Dr Ben Beaumont, Head of English Language Teacher Strategy & Publishing at Trinity College London, commented, “’Polite-isms’ are a fascinating feature of communication, used extensively in the UK, and often reflecting our preference to be indirect to avoid confrontation. But they’re actually not a new trend. We’ve been using them for thousands of years. There are even examples of ‘polite-isms’ in the Old English classic Beowulf, which was composed between the 7th and 9th centuries.”
“In our work supporting and assessing English, we’ve been able to gather evidence showing us how English learners navigate these features of cultural interaction. We use such research to continually evolve the design of our qualifications with authentic real-world communication in mind, so that we are assessing the language that learners need to interact confidently and appropriately”
“At Trinity, we draw on specialist insights and ongoing research like this to also provide targeted support for teachers and learners worldwide, developing not only their linguistic accuracy but also their practical competence. And by choosing the right qualification for their need, learners can study towards, and gain, the communication skills they need to succeed in their aspirations for life, study, and work. Our approach ensures that learners are not only prepared for exams but also empowered to navigate a diverse range of situations with confidence.”
Our passion for politeness doesn’t extend to when we’re speaking a foreign language though – 45 percent of those who can speak another language say they find it to be easier to say “no” when they’re not speaking in their mother tongue. In contrast, over half (52 percent) believe that people learning English SHOULD learn about polite-isms. And when it comes to digital communication, one in four (26 percent) say they are more direct with their language online than they would be in person. A third say seeing their words written out has made them more careful about what they say, while in contrast it has made 26 percent more direct.
In a separate survey of teachers who teach English as a foreign language (EFL), more than a third (35 percent) say that global streaming networks have helped to improve students from overseas understanding and use of British phrases.
THE 20 MOST COMMON BRITISH “POLITE-ISMS”:
“Interesting idea”. Translation, “That’s a really terrible idea” – 22%
“Ooh could I just squeeze past you”. Translation, “Could you please move out of my way” – 48%
“Sounds fun, I’ll let you know”. Translation, “I’m not coming” – 45%
“I beg your pardon?”. Translation, “What the hell did you just say?” – 42%
“Sorry I’m a bit busy right now!”. Translation, “please leave me alone” – 41%
“No rush, when you have a minute”. Translation, “please hurry up” – 39%
“With all due respect…”. Translation, “You’re wrong, and here’s why” – 36%
“As per my last email”. Translation, “I already told you this” – 35%
“Sorry, could you say that last bit again”. Translation, “I wasn’t listening to a word you were saying” – 33%
“I hear what you’re saying”. translation, “I completely disagree with you” – 30%
“Not to worry!”. Translation, “This is a disaster, but I’ll pretend everything is fine” – 30%
“I’ll bear it in mind”. Translation, “I’ll forget about this immediately” – 29%
“It could be worse”. Translation, “It’s pretty much the worst thing that’s ever happened” – 29%
“That’s one way of looking at it”. Translation, “You’re wildly off the mark” – 28%
“Just a gentle reminder”. Translation, “I cannot believe you haven’t done this” – 26%
“Happy to help”. Translation, “I’m having to help, when I really don’t want to” – 25%
“Appreciate if you could let me know either way”. Translation, “I cannot believe you have not replied to me!” – 24%
“I’m sure it’s just me, but”. Translation, “This is entirely your fault, but I’m softening the blow” – 23%
“It’s not bad, actually”. Translation, “It’s surprisingly tolerable, considering my low expectations” – 23%
“Happy to discuss”. Translation, “I can’t think if anything worse than discussing this further” – 23%