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Originally Posted by Robert B. Mercer SweetMommaSue and RonBee are right, in my opinion.
"Shall I help you with that?"... maybe in very fancy, expensive stores.. but if a friend of mine said that in Oklahoma I would assume he was pulling my leg... and was about to offer me some grey poupon mustard...
Would you like me to get that for you?
Could I help you with that?
Let me help you with that...
Dude, that sucker weighs a ton, let me get that for you... |
Hello again
Yes, I do agree with Robert G. Mercer and RonBee. I think this is a very good example of one of the differences between BE and AE.
While "Shall I . . ." may be common in the UK, here in the US it would only be heard in the more upscale boutiques and salons in, perhaps NYC, DC, Philly and other large cities.
The last sentence of Robert's beginning with "Dude. . ." is exactly how my sisters who are in their mid 20's talk. I find it base, to be called 'dude', myself, but they laugh it off. So, while our counterparts over the sea manage to uphold to the more formal structures, and quite naturally at that, we here in the USA seem bent on becoming more and more casual. I wonder, too, if that isn't one of the reasons so many of our younger generation simply do not understand proper English. It's almost like a foreign language to them, as our spoken/colloquial English has become so different over the years. . . and is still evolving!
I personally think it a shame. It's the same as is what's happening with etiquette, but that's another thread entirely.
Have a great day, all!
Sweet Momma Sue
(sipping coffee in the quiet before the kids get up)