You're not REALLY sorry though, are you!?
I'm an English teacher, and as an English teacher, I get asked all kinds of questions about the English language, culture, history and so on.Today, I was asked this:
"Why do English people say 'sorry' all the time?"
I think it's a really good question. It certainly made me think!
If I don't hear something, I say "sorry?"
If I want to speak with someone I say "Sorry, have you got a moment?"
Even if I have some rude students in class who talk while I'm talking I say "Sorry, would you mind quietening down?"
Then, if I run over an old lady's cat in my car, then reverse over it again; squirting its entrails over the owner's front window accidentally spelling out the word 'f*ck' with it's large intestine...... what do I say?? You guessed it; 'Sorry'!!
Given its other uses, 'sorry' just doesn't seem adequate any more for situations like this!
Are we Englishmen just too polite to express ourselves....?
Comments (49)
In Spanish you have 'perdon', 'disculpeme' and 'lo siento'. I think it's a bit more expressive.
could you repeat that...
Sorry, I really can't be bothered just now ;)
I think you're right. Maybe it's just a lost cause!
You're welcome, Chocheta!
Love is another strange word. As in;
"I love football, I love my girlfriend and I love my mum!"
Surely we should be using different words for all three!
by the way...Love means never having to say you're sorry...
I don't think it's a case of inventing new words, maybe more a matter of brining some back from the (almost dead) like "pardon" when you don't hear something, or "excuse me" to get someone's attention.
That way we might restore the potency of sorry instead of telling St. Peter :
"Sorry to bother you, mate. Sorry, could you repeat that? Oh, and I'm also sorry for my sins!"
we keep saying "sorry " so frequently during our daily conversations
It's good to know we're not alone!
it's enough to say sorry when we say or do something wrong-but why we say it so often outside of those instances , I have no idea
"sorry" Patrick , but from now on , i'm gonna say more "excuse me" 's than " sorry " from now on
Don't get me wrong, I'm as guilty as anyone of this! I'm definitely not preaching - although it sounds like it'd be to the choir anyway!
Sorry to point out that I'm sorry your 'sorrys' should really be excuse 'mes'! ;)
it's not like me to make an error re grammar - please "excuse me " I do actually have "A" grade passes in A'level and O'level English ... so " sorry " --I hope you will "excuse me "
If I unintentionally hurt someones feelings I do say I'm sorry.
I've had conversations with someone who'll pretty much of the time and it gets on my last nerve.
You get an 'A' from me!
Yes, I think American's are less guilty of it than the British. Good for you, I say!
great blog
Looks like it's back to the drawing board for Elton John!
I wonder if he reads my blog.......?
"you're not really SORRY though , are you " ?
Hi Raven
It doesn't quite seem to scan in the same way...
and yes , turning in his grave surely for making such a mistake
I think there's another blogger with that name too. I confuse easily. I'm rubbish and very sorry! You got in their first with your forgiveness, so thanks!
Back to the Elton thing: maybe we need to change the word 'sorry' instead.
"Pardon seems to be the hardest word"
Why does no one use pardon any more?
I am Serenity
if you boys will "excuse me " , I'm away to my snuggle under my quilt now
Thankyou Patrick --your blog was great fun --great play on words indeed
Goodnight all
Good night, Serenity :)
Sorry, I didn't pay attention to the question, Sorry, I didn't understand it, Sorry, Can you repeat it, So Sorry
just sayen
- Grab a plate and throw it on the floor.
- Okay, done.
- Did it break?
- Yes.
- Now, say sorry to it.
- Sorry.
- Did it go back to how it was before?
- No.
- Do you understand?