What would that be? The immigration? Sure Canada, New Zealand and Australia and the UK have millions from overseas too Perhaps the American working environment of being talked to and robotic... Canadian, If I say kiwi some won't know I mean New Zealand and especially Australia has very similar humour. Often more aligned with either East end of London or Northern Ireland, Northern England and Scotland. I think it's the British way of thinking on your feet quickly, wit, thinking of SAS training. One of the first things they do is leaving them somewhere with zero instructions. No shouting in ears. Interesting but I've seen this girl do a few videos. She is often way off. I understand not intentionally but the various counties and cities. She hasn't been around them much. No way on earth is London or Bath even close to Liverpool to Leeds Belfast to Newcastle or Glasgow even to Edinburgh. So many parochialisms. Rivalry but that's often part of the slagging match. Or banter to others..
@JJNTA It's definitely not immigration. Both countries have the same patterns of immigration. I suspect it's more about the class structure. America was based on slavery, so those doing the work were given orders and initiative would get them beaten.
Funnily enough, just earlier today, I messaged my spouse (who is Chinese, whereas I am British) to ask for some information about something - precise measurement details about a rug I bought a few days ago, but which my spouse is storing for a few weeks until I am ready to use it later this month, and I messaged something like “ when you get a moment, there’s no particular rush, can you let me know the precise length/width of the new rug I bought, as I want to know which of my existing rugs it will replace”. Within 10 or 15 minutes I got a message back with the precise details I had asked for, as it was understood that I wanted to know the details NOW, but also indicated that I understood that if it was truly inconvenient I would understand a relatively brief delay - this unspoken kind of communication is not just because we’re married and generally understand each other, but that despite our different cultures we understand the unspoken subtleties 😉👍.
I remember speaking with an American who told me they had quit their job due to stress and I responded "That's a shame" and they went nuts! Going on about how they didn't need my judgement and had already had their folks make them feel like crap about it etc. I was like - oh...Uh - it's just a way of saying sorry to hear. (I really wasn't expecting drama from an innocuous acknowledgement 😆)
As a moderator for several prominent US channels on Twitch, I initially found it challenging to communicate our needs effectively through writing. It became clear that I needed to adopt a more direct approach.
"that is an interesting idea" is often a polite way that UK people say "actually, what you are saying is utter bollocks!" And can also mean "go on, carry on making a fool of yourself". And when talking to people from an arrogant "low context communication" nation, you can be absolutely certain they will continue to do so. A bit like in this "interesting" video.
If somebody says "can you do this when you have a minute?" The normal response is "I will do it right after this", or "I will get on to that right away", or if you are justifiable busy you ask in return "when do you want this by?".
Around a minute in. If you listen carefully. She said there was still other people in the office (downstairs, as they obviously were) but she didn't say the there was people in the upstairs office. The upstairs might be where the room they took tea breaks. So knowing everyone has had their tea break, lunch etc then the workers still in the office would have no need to go upstairs and think of closing it. Its in the context and to use initiative. 👍
I always wondered if it was just me, as a Brit we do seem to read more into our interactions with fellow Brits, It's as if Brits have a shared mind set, we read situations and respond with out having to go through lengthy explanation's, if we don't respond then that's the end of the the conversation and both parties understand that to continue would be a waste of each others time and mutually disengage as if nothing had happened, It's one of the reasons we are often seen as reserved by non Brits. often small actions can say a thousand words but it only works when you are deeply intoned in your surroundings and those around you, It,s all part of being British, we see much and say as little necessary!
She never mentioned about how when someone says” Alright” to you ,how they are not expecting your life story just another way of saying hi and going on your way.
In the UK you pick up on the body language, tone of voice, the situation etc this will help with any hidden meanings. At the same time just be direct when needing to be clear especially to people you haven't known for long.
The first one is not a communication issue. Most Americans understand that if you are asked to check on something, you address it accordingly. That's like asking can you check on dinner in the oven, they go look at it and then leave it to burn instead of taking it out of the oven.
Imo a lot of the southern states people speak a bit more indirectly and more british like. Even some southern american sayings or responses ive heard were so similar to british or irish sayings.
This woman does get things wrong sometimes. In particular, I note that she takes that chart as a useful 'translator' for people visiting the UK. No. It isn't, and it isn't meant to be! It's satirical. Like much of British humour, it's very tongue-in-cheek. It's obvious to us Brits, but confusing to anyone else. This woman just hasn't got the joke. And, speaking of jokes, Brits very often make a humorous aside during conversation, often said dead-pan and quietly, in conversation tones. This is very common, and others chuckle or, more often, come back with a quip of their own. No-one says, oh, you just made a funny joke. US Americans, when they make such a joke, often quite loudly, follow up with 'Did you see what I did there?' just so's everyone knows that it was a joke. I.e., US Americans have to be told it's a joke, otherwise they take it literally, which often detracts from the whole point of the joke. I think this sums up the difference perfectly. I think it might be different in London, where she lives. Every single office, both city and provincial, I've ever worked in, and I've worked in a LOT, if we ask if anyone wants something from the shops or takeout, we MEAN it. Same with 'when you've got a minute' .. to me, it's always, always meant 'can you slot this in when you have a chance, please?' So I think she's wrong, it's possibly a London thing.
So what is direct about a rest room with no seat, a bathroom with no bath, & a fear of the word toilet. And how about using trade names instead of the actual thing, like 'coke' for all carbonated drinks. In the UK Coke only means Coke, Pepsi is Pepsi, 7 Up is 7 Up, etc. Band Aid is only one type of sticking plaster, not the name of all of them. Americans have many similar odd way of saying things. Like ALL clothing tops are 'shirts', even when they're not. All leg wear are 'pants', but in the UK they are jeans, or combats, or trousers etc specifying the exact type. Tops may be jumpers, pullovers, sweaters or tank tops etc, again different specific types. There are numerous similar examples, which Americans use but Britons would need explaining. Brits hate to be pushy, but try to be polite at all times, so expect people to understand what is said without takin offence.
the fact that he brought up whether or not the window was open, means that he was asking to close said window if it is, there are clear implications there.
As mentioned in the previous comment, you can see this in our humour & comedy. Americans need very obvious punchlines to jokes & easy to follow sitcom scripts. The Brits comedy has more sarcasm & subtle inuendo which requires a little more thought. This has nothing to do with intellect but conditioning.
I'm inbetween high and low context! As a Scot I found that when I moved to England I had to guess or clarify what people were saying and it's more so the further South in the UK you go. I prefer direct but lots of people here think that's blunt. I would probably have said...go check all the windows are closed upstairs...much more straightfprward!
I am a Brit and have lived my whole life so far in the UK. I personally am a high context communicator, to be honest I will sometimes omit information when talking to people just to see the confused look on their face but I only do that to people I have a good relationship with (Or a REALLY bad one), and I only do it because I have learnt from my experience working with and encountering people with different backgrounds to mine that not everyone has the same knowledge or thoughts, so in the open window example I probably would have said something like "Can you go upstairs and check the window is closed?"... because my friends are dicks I would have also subconsciously prepared to argue if the person I asked is willing to do that, as can and will are two different questions, but that's an Us problem.
Pretty much spot on. Brits tend to avoid the "direct" communication as it can appear pretty rude - and always being polite and not being rude, was considered very important. My HK Chinese wife is very, very direct, and totally lacks all the subtly and "toned down" and I really have learned to adjust. Travelled and know enough Americans to totally get it - although it was quite a shock in the early days! Mind you, you do get Americans who totally get it, and Brits who are equally frank and direct. A spectrum indeed.
I would have misunderstood the "check if the window is open" request because the implication is open it if not. They should say "check if the window is closed" with the implication close it if it's open.
i wouldn't have tbf, for some reason idk why my parents would always use both, every time we went out they'd say either "check if the windows are open", "check if the windows are closed" or just "check the windows upstairs", basically checking the windows in any way meant make sure they are closed, anytime we want the windows open the communication is always more direct usually just "can you open the window", "can you get the windows open", "can we get some air in here", "can you let some air in" probably the most subtle way of asking would be to say "its a bit stuffy in here", this might just be my opinion but i feel like in the uk people hate being hot so when the windows need opening people are more direct because it means highest priority as we want them open straight away
@@peanut2864 I don't know where you worked, everyone I know would tell them do it yourself, unless you were the one that opened them. Office junior? Opening and closing windows is not part of an office newbees job.
@@daveofyorkshire301 many places where office is on multiple levels someone has to check the window(s) upstairs before leaving and more often than not it lands on the junior “you’re younger/more nimble” (heard all these before). Not that deep, just highlighting that if she’d been a Brit in the same position the context clues would have been more obvious and she would have understood that she was meant to close said window if found open
As a Brit I'd just leave and not ask if anybody wanted anything, if I was getting my lunch and didn't want to buy anything, but I'm mildly unsociable, I like to have lunch time to myself in peace...
The US, Australia and Canada are low context countries, the UK is also one - but to a lesser extent. Other examples would be Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands. France, Spain, Russia, most of East Asia and Latin America are high context.
Here's a funny story. I was looking to seal a bathtub. I needed CAULKING. I asked teh guy in the 'hardware store' in Eugene, Oregon. I said caulking for sealing teh bath tub surround. I tried for 5 minutes and teh guy didn't understand me. I have a pretty clear accent. almost R.P. But no. So they got an older guy. Who didn't understand me."CAUKLING the silicon stuff you seal bath tubs to teh wall with.".Still he didn't get it. I thought of a friend up river here."Have you any cock". yep. That is how they pronounce caulking. Sounded funny as hell to me. But in fairness it also sounds like an Irish accent. Though teh rich I knew would recognize "caulk".
The UK has a diverse culture as we’ve been mixing cultures for over 2000 years. But we are very sarcastic in our speech & our humour is even more sarcastic.
Presumably, this person works in the same building as the person making the request to check if the window is open and would know if leaving a window open is a normal or allowable thing to do. With context, you should be able to determine most information yourself. Say I was working in a bank, and my manager asked me to check if the window was open. I would know that leaving a window open is a security risk and should be closed. Context matters when it comes to a request. If you are confused about a part of the request, try asking the requester why you should check the window. That's what good communication is - not just mindlessly following every request. For all we know, that window is in an office that only these two would ever go into, so others may leave it open overnight. Or if they're in the city, which it sounds like they are, pigeons would likely fly in and poop all over the place and most likely, moths would be flying in constantly as it gets darker and the room would be filled overnight. As very little is given about the work situation, it is impossible to know who was the simple-minded party in this exchange.
'could you check if the window's open' if you want it closed, is miscommunication on our part. I for one, would never put it that way! While I may say that, I would add, 'and if it is, would you please close it'. That's just common sense, in terms of communication anyhow.
As for the window , if it was ok for the window to be open you wouldn't have been asked to check. So of course if it was then open you'd close it. Thats not miscommunication its common sense.
A lot can depend on tone of voice, 'That is an interesting idea' with a positive tone is 'Tell me more', otherwise, it's an ambiguous statement quite often. 🙂 Being a literal person (mildly autistic), I'd clarify what people mean in asking 'Can you check if the window is open?' and I'm from Britain.
She's wrong about the immigration thing. Not only were both countries created by waves of immigrants, but both were primarily settled by German immigrants. There is something else behind the difference.
That first one is totally weird. "Can you check if the window is open?" basically means, "Go look at the window, and if it is open, then close it." It is the first time I am becoming aware that any other interpretation is possible. Especially from a woman. Like, if you are driving past a restaurant and your wife/gf says "Are you feeling hungry?", it literally means "Let's stop here and get something to eat."
I’ve lived in London for 48 years (born and raised) and cannot stand “high context” communication, tell me what you want literally and I’ll get it done, use hidden meaning and you get what you deserve, miscommunication.
and aye, i think the diversity thing is waaaaay off. our language is the way it is in part BECAUSE we are probably the most diverse country on earth. remember we had the empire and everyone from it had access here. I think we probably must be in the top ten or even five of nations on the earth containing citizens from the most countries.
One other thing is to think about neurodivergence and autistic spectrum whete more direct, literal and less metaphorical statements can be more helpful. That is true. However. I think there is a culture in the UK not to humiliate people so f something is rubbish we'd never say that's rubbish. Why? Everyone is trying their best and there are all sorts of reasons why something isnt good. You dont expose people for bad work but work with them to understand how to improve what they do.
90% of Brit conversation is voice tone, context and body language. If you're not clued in to that, of course you're going to miss the meaning. On the other hand, there's no nice way to say 'With all due respect...'.
Having seen two reactions to the initial vid,I’ve changed from disbelief to belief. How could a whole people be that…..literal? Or un nuanced? Struggling for the best description.
There have been quite a few videos of this girl and I'm sorry but she is often pretty off. Her explanation on "high context" "low context" and to then suggest the UK has hundreds of years of some "homogenous existence" is simply wrong. The UK has millions of immigrants too. Within England itself, someone in the south west couldn't understand one from the north east. The regions are not all the same. Humour from the south east can be just a bit too tame for my own Northern Ireland, Scotland and Northern England have a pretty dark sense of humour. Often much more vulgar too. Roy Chubby Brown, Billy Connoly, Peter Kaye, Mickley Flanagan there is one spot though in the south east and that would be the Eastend of London. Al Murray character... Though, of course hearing the jokes in the unique accents adds to it. Scouse Lilly Savage no longer with us... I appreciate her attempts as these comparisons but when I hear her say that Americans just follow instructions she made them sound simple. I've been around enough to know other countries more similar to parts of the UK like Canada, New Zealand but especially Australia. Again very blunt, dark at times and trust me, most of my family are there and they are vulgar too. Even the slang. You can not use the line of Americans are made up of immigrants and its young. The others are too but using this terminology, they are "high context". Sorry Neal. Tapping out on this video. I've a mate (Australia, New Zealand word too). Mate from Athens studied sociology and said he wasted life studying vague but when it suits rigid "theories". Got him nowhere. Ended up working for Ryanair! Can't watch her
I did point out part if London. Some might be born but raised elsewhere too. Point is, it's not as homogeneous as the young girl perhaps thinks. Excuse the half dozing mode but it would be rude to ignore. Goodnight 👍
good reaction - you a getting the British drift in ways of saying things, sir. I did find this a difficult video to listen to, with headphones; every slam on the keyboard to start and stop the video made the the microphone judder and make a booming sound. Gonna have to skip any more like this.
This actually explains the difference in British and American humour.
What would that be? The immigration?
Sure Canada, New Zealand and Australia and the UK have millions from overseas too
Perhaps the American working environment of being talked to and robotic...
Canadian, If I say kiwi some won't know I mean New Zealand and especially Australia has very similar humour. Often more aligned with either East end of London or Northern Ireland, Northern England and Scotland.
I think it's the British way of thinking on your feet quickly, wit, thinking of SAS training. One of the first things they do is leaving them somewhere with zero instructions. No shouting in ears. Interesting but I've seen this girl do a few videos. She is often way off.
I understand not intentionally but the various counties and cities. She hasn't been around them much. No way on earth is London or Bath even close to Liverpool to Leeds
Belfast to Newcastle or Glasgow even to Edinburgh.
So many parochialisms. Rivalry but that's often part of the slagging match. Or banter to others..
Excellent point.
@JJNTA It's definitely not immigration. Both countries have the same patterns of immigration. I suspect it's more about the class structure. America was based on slavery, so those doing the work were given orders and initiative would get them beaten.
@@JJNTA Are you ok? 👀😂
Funnily enough, just earlier today, I messaged my spouse (who is Chinese, whereas I am British) to ask for some information about something - precise measurement details about a rug I bought a few days ago, but which my spouse is storing for a few weeks until I am ready to use it later this month, and I messaged something like “ when you get a moment, there’s no particular rush, can you let me know the precise length/width of the new rug I bought, as I want to know which of my existing rugs it will replace”. Within 10 or 15 minutes I got a message back with the precise details I had asked for, as it was understood that I wanted to know the details NOW, but also indicated that I understood that if it was truly inconvenient I would understand a relatively brief delay - this unspoken kind of communication is not just because we’re married and generally understand each other, but that despite our different cultures we understand the unspoken subtleties 😉👍.
I remember speaking with an American who told me they had quit their job due to stress and I responded "That's a shame" and they went nuts! Going on about how they didn't need my judgement and had already had their folks make them feel like crap about it etc. I was like - oh...Uh - it's just a way of saying sorry to hear. (I really wasn't expecting drama from an innocuous acknowledgement 😆)
As a moderator for several prominent US channels on Twitch, I initially found it challenging to communicate our needs effectively through writing. It became clear that I needed to adopt a more direct approach.
"that is an interesting idea" is often a polite way that UK people say "actually, what you are saying is utter bollocks!"
And can also mean "go on, carry on making a fool of yourself".
And when talking to people from an arrogant "low context communication" nation, you can be absolutely certain they will continue to do so.
A bit like in this "interesting" video.
If somebody says "can you do this when you have a minute?" The normal response is "I will do it right after this", or "I will get on to that right away", or if you are justifiable busy you ask in return "when do you want this by?".
Around a minute in. If you listen carefully. She said there was still other people in the office (downstairs, as they obviously were) but she didn't say the there was people in the upstairs office. The upstairs might be where the room they took tea breaks. So knowing everyone has had their tea break, lunch etc then the workers still in the office would have no need to go upstairs and think of closing it.
Its in the context and to use initiative. 👍
I always wondered if it was just me, as a Brit we do seem to read more into our interactions with fellow Brits, It's as if Brits have a shared mind set, we read situations and respond with out having to go through lengthy explanation's, if we don't respond then that's the end of the the conversation and both parties understand that to continue would be a waste of each others time and mutually disengage as if nothing had happened, It's one of the reasons we are often seen as reserved by non Brits. often small actions can say a thousand words but it only works when you are deeply intoned in your surroundings and those around you, It,s all part of being British, we see much and say as little necessary!
She never mentioned about how when someone says” Alright” to you ,how they are not expecting your life story just another way of saying hi and going on your way.
In the UK you pick up on the body language, tone of voice, the situation etc this will help with any hidden meanings. At the same time just be direct when needing to be clear especially to people you haven't known for long.
The UK is at least as diverse as America. The difference, I think, is that UK workers are not given orders and are expected to think for themselves.
The first one is not a communication issue. Most Americans understand that if you are asked to check on something, you address it accordingly. That's like asking can you check on dinner in the oven, they go look at it and then leave it to burn instead of taking it out of the oven.
Imo a lot of the southern states people speak a bit more indirectly and more british like. Even some southern american sayings or responses ive heard were so similar to british or irish sayings.
This woman does get things wrong sometimes. In particular, I note that she takes that chart as a useful 'translator' for people visiting the UK. No. It isn't, and it isn't meant to be! It's satirical. Like much of British humour, it's very tongue-in-cheek. It's obvious to us Brits, but confusing to anyone else. This woman just hasn't got the joke. And, speaking of jokes, Brits very often make a humorous aside during conversation, often said dead-pan and quietly, in conversation tones. This is very common, and others chuckle or, more often, come back with a quip of their own. No-one says, oh, you just made a funny joke. US Americans, when they make such a joke, often quite loudly, follow up with 'Did you see what I did there?' just so's everyone knows that it was a joke. I.e., US Americans have to be told it's a joke, otherwise they take it literally, which often detracts from the whole point of the joke. I think this sums up the difference perfectly.
I think it might be different in London, where she lives. Every single office, both city and provincial, I've ever worked in, and I've worked in a LOT, if we ask if anyone wants something from the shops or takeout, we MEAN it. Same with 'when you've got a minute' .. to me, it's always, always meant 'can you slot this in when you have a chance, please?' So I think she's wrong, it's possibly a London thing.
So what is direct about a rest room with no seat, a bathroom with no bath, & a fear of the word toilet. And how about using trade names instead of the actual thing, like 'coke' for all carbonated drinks. In the UK Coke only means Coke, Pepsi is Pepsi, 7 Up is 7 Up, etc. Band Aid is only one type of sticking plaster, not the name of all of them. Americans have many similar odd way of saying things. Like ALL clothing tops are 'shirts', even when they're not.
All leg wear are 'pants', but in the UK they are jeans, or combats, or trousers etc specifying the exact type. Tops may be jumpers, pullovers, sweaters or tank tops etc, again different specific types. There are numerous similar examples, which Americans use but Britons would need explaining. Brits hate to be pushy, but try to be polite at all times, so expect people to understand what is said without takin offence.
the fact that he brought up whether or not the window was open, means that he was asking to close said window if it is, there are clear implications there.
'We should get together soon' is often meant at the time but fades quickly!
Depends on the tone in which "It's an interesting idea" is spoken.
As mentioned in the previous comment, you can see this in our humour & comedy.
Americans need very obvious punchlines to jokes & easy to follow sitcom scripts.
The Brits comedy has more sarcasm & subtle inuendo which requires a little more thought.
This has nothing to do with intellect but conditioning.
I'm inbetween high and low context! As a Scot I found that when I moved to England I had to guess or clarify what people were saying and it's more so the further South in the UK you go. I prefer direct but lots of people here think that's blunt. I would probably have said...go check all the windows are closed upstairs...much more straightfprward!
I am a Brit and have lived my whole life so far in the UK. I personally am a high context communicator, to be honest I will sometimes omit information when talking to people just to see the confused look on their face but I only do that to people I have a good relationship with (Or a REALLY bad one), and I only do it because I have learnt from my experience working with and encountering people with different backgrounds to mine that not everyone has the same knowledge or thoughts, so in the open window example I probably would have said something like "Can you go upstairs and check the window is closed?"... because my friends are dicks I would have also subconsciously prepared to argue if the person I asked is willing to do that, as can and will are two different questions, but that's an Us problem.
Enjoyed that :D . i think within minutes you'd assimilate smoothly here , you are quite astute when it comes to the nuance in the uk's language use.
Pretty much spot on. Brits tend to avoid the "direct" communication as it can appear pretty rude - and always being polite and not being rude, was considered very important. My HK Chinese wife is very, very direct, and totally lacks all the subtly and "toned down" and I really have learned to adjust. Travelled and know enough Americans to totally get it - although it was quite a shock in the early days! Mind you, you do get Americans who totally get it, and Brits who are equally frank and direct. A spectrum indeed.
I would have misunderstood the "check if the window is open" request because the implication is open it if not.
They should say "check if the window is closed" with the implication close it if it's open.
i wouldn't have tbf, for some reason idk why my parents would always use both, every time we went out they'd say either "check if the windows are open", "check if the windows are closed" or just "check the windows upstairs", basically checking the windows in any way meant make sure they are closed, anytime we want the windows open the communication is always more direct usually just "can you open the window", "can you get the windows open", "can we get some air in here", "can you let some air in" probably the most subtle way of asking would be to say "its a bit stuffy in here", this might just be my opinion but i feel like in the uk people hate being hot so when the windows need opening people are more direct because it means highest priority as we want them open straight away
@@nice900 That provide no contextual information at all and depends entirely upon your relationship and history.
The clue was that it’s at the end of the day, windows are not left open overnight. And also it’s definitely a job for the junior in the office
@@peanut2864 I don't know where you worked, everyone I know would tell them do it yourself, unless you were the one that opened them.
Office junior? Opening and closing windows is not part of an office newbees job.
@@daveofyorkshire301 many places where office is on multiple levels someone has to check the window(s) upstairs before leaving and more often than not it lands on the junior “you’re younger/more nimble” (heard all these before). Not that deep, just highlighting that if she’d been a Brit in the same position the context clues would have been more obvious and she would have understood that she was meant to close said window if found open
As a Brit I and I think many others would have done the same. Our own people can be very obtuse sometimes.
As a Brit I'd just leave and not ask if anybody wanted anything, if I was getting my lunch and didn't want to buy anything, but I'm mildly unsociable, I like to have lunch time to myself in peace...
The US, Australia and Canada are low context countries, the UK is also one - but to a lesser extent. Other examples would be Germany, Sweden and the Netherlands.
France, Spain, Russia, most of East Asia and Latin America are high context.
Learning this will take you a long way if visiting Britain...... But it womt help you if you meet a brit thats particularly sarcastic like myself 😂
Here's a funny story. I was looking to seal a bathtub. I needed CAULKING. I asked teh guy in the 'hardware store' in Eugene, Oregon. I said caulking for sealing teh bath tub surround. I tried for 5 minutes and teh guy didn't understand me. I have a pretty clear accent. almost R.P. But no. So they got an older guy. Who didn't understand me."CAUKLING the silicon stuff you seal bath tubs to teh wall with.".Still he didn't get it.
I thought of a friend up river here."Have you any cock".
yep. That is how they pronounce caulking. Sounded funny as hell to me. But in fairness it also sounds like an Irish accent. Though teh rich I knew would recognize "caulk".
The UK has a diverse culture as we’ve been mixing cultures for over 2000 years. But we are very sarcastic in our speech & our humour is even more sarcastic.
Bless their heart is a thing we say in Britain to mean someone is naive. bless their heart lol I guess the south get it from us.
Presumably, this person works in the same building as the person making the request to check if the window is open and would know if leaving a window open is a normal or allowable thing to do.
With context, you should be able to determine most information yourself. Say I was working in a bank, and my manager asked me to check if the window was open. I would know that leaving a window open is a security risk and should be closed. Context matters when it comes to a request. If you are confused about a part of the request, try asking the requester why you should check the window. That's what good communication is - not just mindlessly following every request.
For all we know, that window is in an office that only these two would ever go into, so others may leave it open overnight. Or if they're in the city, which it sounds like they are, pigeons would likely fly in and poop all over the place and most likely, moths would be flying in constantly as it gets darker and the room would be filled overnight.
As very little is given about the work situation, it is impossible to know who was the simple-minded party in this exchange.
'could you check if the window's open' if you want it closed, is miscommunication on our part. I for one, would never put it that way! While I may say that, I would add, 'and if it is, would you please close it'. That's just common sense, in terms of communication anyhow.
Bless their heart = "Bless his little cotton socks" or "he's still got his mothers milk on his lips", meaning naive or immature.
As for the window , if it was ok for the window to be open you wouldn't have been asked to check. So of course if it was then open you'd close it. Thats not miscommunication its common sense.
A lot can depend on tone of voice, 'That is an interesting idea' with a positive tone is 'Tell me more', otherwise, it's an ambiguous statement quite often. 🙂 Being a literal person (mildly autistic), I'd clarify what people mean in asking 'Can you check if the window is open?' and I'm from Britain.
You’re much more clued up than she is!
When you know you know.
She's wrong about the immigration thing. Not only were both countries created by waves of immigrants, but both were primarily settled by German immigrants. There is something else behind the difference.
That first one is totally weird. "Can you check if the window is open?" basically means, "Go look at the window, and if it is open, then close it." It is the first time I am becoming aware that any other interpretation is possible. Especially from a woman. Like, if you are driving past a restaurant and your wife/gf says "Are you feeling hungry?", it literally means "Let's stop here and get something to eat."
I think she's spent to much time in London or the South of England! I would absolutely get someone something if i was going out to get my lunch.
I prefer the American approach,even though I live in the UK.
I get the feeling someone has had a bad day at work, and having a vent on their channel. 🤭
You're certainly a lot more high context than the average American. You were definitely meant to be British 😁
I’ve lived in London for 48 years (born and raised) and cannot stand “high context” communication, tell me what you want literally and I’ll get it done, use hidden meaning and you get what you deserve, miscommunication.
That's because English is low context.
Would have been better to have asked to make sure the window was closed!
I would have asked if they wanted it closed, not just gone upstairs and looked at the window, that was stupid.
Basically, what she's saying is that we're weird, but we're not as weird as the French. Cool.
and aye, i think the diversity thing is waaaaay off. our language is the way it is in part BECAUSE we are probably the most diverse country on earth. remember we had the empire and everyone from it had access here. I think we probably must be in the top ten or even five of nations on the earth containing citizens from the most countries.
One other thing is to think about neurodivergence and autistic spectrum whete more direct, literal and less metaphorical statements can be more helpful.
That is true.
However. I think there is a culture in the UK not to humiliate people so f something is rubbish we'd never say that's rubbish. Why? Everyone is trying their best and there are all sorts of reasons why something isnt good. You dont expose people for bad work but work with them to understand how to improve what they do.
Britain has more immigrants that the us 😂😂
90% of Brit conversation is voice tone, context and body language. If you're not clued in to that, of course you're going to miss the meaning.
On the other hand, there's no nice way to say 'With all due respect...'.
Having seen two reactions to the initial vid,I’ve changed from disbelief to belief. How could a whole people be that…..literal? Or un nuanced? Struggling for the best description.
There have been quite a few videos of this girl and I'm sorry but she is often pretty off. Her explanation on "high context" "low context" and to then suggest the UK has hundreds of years of some "homogenous existence" is simply wrong. The UK has millions of immigrants too. Within England itself, someone in the south west couldn't understand one from the north east. The regions are not all the same. Humour from the south east can be just a bit too tame for my own Northern Ireland, Scotland and Northern England have a pretty dark sense of humour. Often much more vulgar too. Roy Chubby Brown, Billy Connoly, Peter Kaye, Mickley Flanagan there is one spot though in the south east and that would be the Eastend of London.
Al Murray character... Though, of course hearing the jokes in the unique accents adds to it. Scouse Lilly Savage no longer with us...
I appreciate her attempts as these comparisons but when I hear her say that Americans just follow instructions she made them sound simple. I've been around enough to know other countries more similar to parts of the UK like Canada, New Zealand but especially Australia. Again very blunt, dark at times and trust me, most of my family are there and they are vulgar too. Even the slang. You can not use the line of Americans are made up of immigrants and its young. The others are too but using this terminology, they are "high context".
Sorry Neal. Tapping out on this video. I've a mate (Australia, New Zealand word too). Mate from Athens studied sociology and said he wasted life studying vague but when it suits rigid "theories". Got him nowhere. Ended up working for Ryanair!
Can't watch her
Mickey Flanagan is from London not from up north.
I did point out part if London. Some might be born but raised elsewhere too.
Point is, it's not as homogeneous as the young girl perhaps thinks.
Excuse the half dozing mode but it would be rude to ignore.
Goodnight 👍
if you assume you make an ass of me and you
good reaction - you a getting the British drift in ways of saying things, sir. I did find this a difficult video to listen to, with headphones; every slam on the keyboard to start and stop the video made the the microphone judder and make a booming sound. Gonna have to skip any more like this.
Nigel Farage is not subtle !
His father had a thing for livestock IMHO...
Neal UK Reactions, can we collab
Don’t like the thumbnail!
Not sure why the thumbnail for this video is a picture of extreme right wing UK politicians ? Is that a youtube thing ?
Extreme right wing is anyone you disagree with yes? Does that make starmer extreme left?