Quote:
Originally Posted by YuriTokoro
Hi,Colunbine.
Thanks for your kindness,
I had no idea that it was like that.
I didn’t know you say both “you” (singular and plural) a number of times when you have a talk, and don’t confuse them.
The example is very helpful.
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You're quite welcome. Of course, when we're speaking, tone and inflection and body-language help us to tell the difference.
Quote:
Originally Posted by YuriTokoro
I didn’t know that saying “you should have …..” sounds rude.
In Japan, it is said that American people talk very directly, and we should speak directly like them when we speak in English.
In addition, they also say that American people’s genes are very different from Japanese’s, so Americans are Teflon, prefer speaking directly, and direct speaking doesn’t hurt them.
There seems to be some misunderstandings.
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I think as a rule, English speakers ~are~ more direct than Japanese speakers, but there are limits. You certainly do hear people say things like "No, you should have done such-and-such" and often it's not thought of as rude per se, but it does come with a nuance of correcting a mistake rather than an explanation. If, for example, I'd screwed up trying to use the cash till at work and my Boss had said something like "No, you should have pressed this button first, then that one," I'd feel a little stupid and answer something like "Ah, i see. Sorry. I'll get it right next time." If he said "No, you press this button first and then this one," i'd answer more like, "Ah, ok, i get it now. Thanks for your help."
Quote:
Originally Posted by YuriTokoro
The word “you” (you call abstract) is regarded formal here. I didn’t know it was casual.
Confusing! 
Thank you! |
It might be called formal because it doesn't refer to an individual. As i said, it's like using 'one', which is ~very~ formal, but unfortunately, unlike 'one', we use it in casual situations all the time!
English is a silly language.