Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

Oct 2013

1,569 Views

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....?

Post Comment

Comments (49)

wafwotam●nsw, Tasmania Australia

Oct 3, 2013●2,549 Comments

#41

Report

Patrick1984OP●Barcelona, Catalonia Spain

Oct 3, 2013●28 Blogs●250 Comments

#42

Hi Calliope, thanks for popping by to criticise! Where would I be without people pointing out my lack of imagination!

Report

Patrick1984OP●Barcelona, Catalonia Spain

Oct 3, 2013●28 Blogs●250 Comments

#43

Hi Abagail! :) Hope you're well.....

Sorry, in this case, seems to be the most futile word!

Report

Patrick1984OP●Barcelona, Catalonia Spain

Oct 3, 2013●28 Blogs●250 Comments

#44

Hello waf! :)

Hey Daniel....! But do you really mean it!? ;)

Yes, Adam...... that's a comedy sketch waiting to happen. Polite turrets!

I'm hanging my head in shame, happy! :(

Report

lavina●Paradise, Indonesia

Oct 3, 2013●710 Comments

#45

I'm Sorry I just read your post blog today

Report

Patrick1984OP●Barcelona, Catalonia Spain

Oct 3, 2013●28 Blogs●250 Comments

#46

Hi Lavina,

I forgive you!! How could I not!? :)

Have a great day!

Report

Calliopesgirl●Nashville, Tennessee USA

Oct 3, 2013●322 Blogs●5,311 Comments

#47

Patrick, it is not so much to criticize but more of a "lack of respect" in tody's society to think that the word is an everyday kind of word when there are so many more interesting words in our vocabulary. I for one wince every time I hear it....it hurts my ears. Men especially find that word especially useful in everyday conversations. I usually say,"And...DO you eat with that mouth??"

Report

online today!

Lukeon●Port Elizabeth 6000, Eastern Cape South Africa

Oct 3, 2013●484 Blogs●7,155 Comments

#48

Absolutely nothing wrong by saying 'I'm sorry' its the best way of expressing what you feel at that moment and if your first language is'nt english then all the better. Its a good solid way to express your feeling with no misinterpretation

Report

enock007●delhi, Delhi India

Oct 3, 2013●2 Blogs●8 Comments

#49

u cn slap smbdy n say sry ,dnt mind buddy its a joke

Report

Post Comment - Let others know what you think about this Blog.

More Blogs... Read Next

Changing someones opinion... in CS

I need to stop looking at Instagram reels at night..

I never owned a dog that needed haircuts...

Men from Ireland looking for sex holiday in Spain?

Spray On Hair

Melania...

More Blogs

Meet the Author of this Blog

Patrick1984

Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain

The year was 1984 and the severity of the winter almost seemed to mirror the way in which I was belatedly and unceremoniously brought into being. My (de?)formative years were mostly spent in the dales of Derbyshire, land of the sixth toe, where the m [read more]

About this Blog

by Patrick1984

created Oct 2013

in Uncategorized Blogs

1,569 Views

49 Comments

Last Viewed: May 5

Last Commented: Oct 2013

Patrick1984 has 28 other Blogs

Patrick1984 Blogs (28)

The nature of friendship

It's three times worse than you thought......

If this thread reaches 20 comments......

Russian Princesses