When in conversation with someone, and I haven't understood what he/she has spoken, I was taught to use the single term "Please?" as a request that the speaker repeat the words. Likewise, if one were to say "Please?" to me in conversation, I would repeat what I had just said.
Until today, I thought this usage was common throughout the US, (and perhaps all English speaking areas), but have just been told this is a local thing. I live in northern Kentucky, about 10 miles from Cincinnati Ohio.
Is this true? ******************************************************************* 02-03-06, 12:34 PM shelster I was never taught to use that word.
I generally say "Pardon" or "I'm sorry?"
That may be a central PA thing.
02-03-06, 12:44 PM Professor There seem to be many regional alternatives to this universal request. "Please?" is not one I have heard used. Many people say "I'm sorry?" or just "Sorry?", and -- working our way down the politeness scale -- more common is "What?" (presumably short for "What did you say?") or "Huh?". In the rural U.S., especially the south, people often use "Say what?", as you alluded to in the subject of this topic, or its variant "Say huh?".
Also common, at least in my neck of the backwoods, is to say "Do what?". This, of course, makes no sense unless in response to something like, "So then I had to return to the office in order to..." and you didn't make out the remainder of the sentence. Nonetheless "Do what?" is used as a universal clarifier regardless of context, another regrettable case of the inexorable degredation of language by those who know not whereof they speak. ¿Qué?
02-03-06, 12:53 PM DorianGreyed Around St. Louis, it is "I'm sorry" with a slight leaning of the head to one side, and a somewhat puzzled look. (OK - The puzzled look is my usual look, so maybe others really don't do it.)
02-03-06, 03:39 PM Rakuchild I grew up north of Cincinnati and I heard "Please?" growing up but don't hear it in central Ohio. Also "Beg pardon?" was a phrase I heard as a kid but not now. I hear more "Say wha?" (no t on the end of that) or "say again" now.
If I'm dealing with someone who has English as a second language, I'll say to them, "Would you repeat that, please?" the first time and "Say again?" the second. If a third attempt is needed, I hand them a pen and paper because a lot of people can write English better than they speak it.
02-03-06, 04:30 PM FredPuli "I'm sorry?" is commonest in Southern England. It is used when the less polite, or less formal, would say "What?"
Note: There is a clear distinction in London between " What?" and " Yerwhat ?". The former indicates that the speaker has not heard. The latter indicates that he has heard only too well. Wink
02-03-06, 06:48 PM aminator2002 "What's that?" "Excuse me?" "Pardon me?" "I didn't catch that." "Wha?" "Huh?" "Can you repeat?" "What was that?" "How'd you say?" "I'm not gettin' yah." "Come again?" "What you talkin' bout?" "You're not coming through." "Can you say that again?"
But in case you're wondering I have never heard anyone say "Please?" when they want something repeated. I would just say...
Huh?
02-03-06, 06:53 PM aminator2002 Are there Germans in your area Kendor? In German the term "please" is used for everything under the sun and I can imagine that German immigrants or perhaps some other group of immigrants would start such a tradition in English.
02-03-06, 09:47 PM Kelleygirl Yes, Ami, many Germans settled here in Zinzinnati. And wherever I go, and use "please" --- which is just the natural thing for me to say --- I either get a laugh, a look that says "you're crazy", or someone responding back "you're from Cincinnati, aren't you?"
02-04-06, 12:13 PM Colin, Paris, France "Sorry?" is the invariable word in the UK where my relations live (Carlisle in Cumbria and Beveley in East Yorkshire) - with voice inflection, of course, to show that the utterance is a question. My father (now in his eighties) used to find this very strange; "sorry" was, to him, only said in apology, certainly not as an indication that he hadn't heard something properly. Interestingly, I note that even he now uses the "sorry" word all but exclusively these days in such a context.
02-04-06, 12:47 PM babthrower "Pardon me? " accompanied by a quizzical look is common up here. I think it's short for, "Pardon my ears, I didn't quite catch that. Please repeat."
But I've also heard it used ironically, as in
"Pardon meeeee????", short for "Could you possibly have said what I think you said? Surely not!"
That's what I said when, having missed a payment on a Visa account, I found that even though I paid in full the next month, I was charger two months' interest. I phoned Visa, and when the nice young man confirmed that it was their policy, I answered,
"Pardon meeeee????"
02-05-06, 12:32 AM honilov I usually say, what? In saying that, I give a puzzled look.
If it's a foreigner and I can't understand hardly anything they say, I'll listen a while and then say, I'm sorry but I just can't understand what you are saying. I give them a nice smile and sometimes pat them on the shoulder.
02-05-06, 07:05 AM frankvan I don't think it matters what is said; the meaning is generally conveyed by the quizzical look that accompanies the word. In fact, in most instances, no word is necessary.
Kelleygirl Unless you're on the phone, Frank.
02-12-06, 12:00 AM coldfuse lol KG!
frank's voice look quizzical over the phone Smile
02-12-06, 08:01 AM frankvan Smartass young whippersnappers!!! Razz
02-12-06, 06:09 PM kittypal
quote: If it's a foreigner and I can't understand hardly anything they say, I'll listen a while and then say, I'm sorry but I just can't understand what you are saying. I give them a nice smile and sometimes pat them on the shoulder
I just smile and nod! Smile
02-13-06, 08:54 AM Rakuchild OH NO, Kittypal!! Do that and you might find yourself in a strange motel room drinking liquors not legal in the US. Wink
This message has been edited. Last edited by: DorianGreyed,
