Small cultural aha! moment
Nov. 6th, 2006 11:18 amWhen I first moved here, I realized rather quickly that the American usage of 'Excuse me' in circumstances of interpersonal collision or near-miss differs from the British, but I've never quite been able to specify the difference. Thanks to a post elsewhere on LJ, I think I've got it now.
Americans say 'Excuse me' when they've already bumped into you (for values of 'bump into' up to and including 'pass within four feet', which is deeply confusing to a former Londoner.) The English, on the other hand, tend to use it pre-emptively, as fair warning to the other person to get out of the way before being bumped; the proper thing to say after a collision is 'Sorry.'
Therefore, to a British ear (at least to mine) the American usage comes across as a mildly snarky reproof, though I don't think it's meant that way. I have no idea what the pre-emptive British usage does to American nerves, but I do wonder if the reported Canadian usage of 'Sorry' on being bumped into is an odd hybrid of the two. Or is that just a myth?
Americans say 'Excuse me' when they've already bumped into you (for values of 'bump into' up to and including 'pass within four feet', which is deeply confusing to a former Londoner.) The English, on the other hand, tend to use it pre-emptively, as fair warning to the other person to get out of the way before being bumped; the proper thing to say after a collision is 'Sorry.'
Therefore, to a British ear (at least to mine) the American usage comes across as a mildly snarky reproof, though I don't think it's meant that way. I have no idea what the pre-emptive British usage does to American nerves, but I do wonder if the reported Canadian usage of 'Sorry' on being bumped into is an odd hybrid of the two. Or is that just a myth?
