English language again

Sep. 25th, 2006 at 11:57 PM

I just read Diana Wynne Jones's The Ogre Downstairs for the first time, and learned a bit of English English in the process.

Person A steps on Person B's foot rather hard. Person B forgives Person A, but adds...

(if American) "You owe me for that."
(if British) "I owe you for that."

The economy of retribution is entirely reversed over here.

Comments

( 11 comments — Leave a comment )

mithent

Sep. 25th, 2006 11:07 pm (UTC)

Interesting :) I do enjoy reading about linguistic differences.

Link | Reply | Thread

makyo

Sep. 25th, 2006 11:39 pm (UTC)

I think the difference is in terms of what is owed. In the American version, the stepper owes the stepped-upon some form of apology, remuneration or favour, while in the British verson, the stepped-upon owes the stepper some sort of retribution. At least, that's how I've always understood it.

Link | Reply | Thread

owlfish

Sep. 26th, 2006 08:04 am (UTC)

No, that's not how the American English version works in my understanding. It's a promise of retribution on the part of Person B. Apologies galore can occur at the point the thing happens - but whatever happened is an opening for Person B to respond in kind at a later point.

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread

owlfish

Sep. 26th, 2006 08:05 am (UTC)

Although a favor could take the place of that, or other form of remuneration. An apology won't cut it though.

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread

gillo

Sep. 26th, 2006 12:34 am (UTC)

"I owe you" means that vengeance is promised, while "You owe me" means that restitution is required. We're clearly more vindictive than you people....

Link | Reply | Thread

sollersuk

Sep. 26th, 2006 05:42 am (UTC)

Little hint: don't call it "British". That is the language that was spoken in this country before the Romans got here and later developed into Welsh. The word is "English".

Link | Reply | Thread

owlfish

Sep. 26th, 2006 08:01 am (UTC)

Then I'll have to call it "British English" or perhaps, more usefully, "English English". The other peoples of the world who speak variants of English will be too confused if I just call it English.

I'm happy to be consistent and call American "American English".

Link | Reply | Parent | Thread