any cunning linguists?

[infinite monkey]

Originally Posted by Sundae

We need Limey here, she's a cunning linguist as she demonstrated for both Dana & me.

Re Americans saying please & thank-you, I noticed it in films too.
Someone walks into a bar, sits down and beckons the bartender over. "I'll have a beer."
That is appalling manners in England! Firstly, you say "Excuse me" if you want to get someone's attention. More likely you will stand/ sit politely until you are noticed. Then you ask for a beer, in the same way you would ask a friend (even though you are going to pay for it). "Can I have a beer, please?" When given it you thank the bartender, and thank him again when he gives you your change. And maybe even add something like, "Lovely, thanks!" as if he has given you a prize rather than doing his job.

The above is mostly tongue in cheek. But true.
No, just kidding. Even though it is true.

I am well aware that Americans have good manners. I think there is a bit of a cultural difference though. I think you'd find our customer service quite surly for example.

Ugh. At my now defunct club, I hated when people would say to the bartender: give me 10 eyes, eyes being a type of gambling ticket.

Give me? How about "Can you get me" or "May I have"?

But, I hated being called 'barmaid' when I bartended. No one called the male bartender 'barbutler.'

There are a lot of people with bad manners. I doubt Americans, rude as we are, have the corner on the market.