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Old 24-Jun-2004, 17:23
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Default degree of politeness

(1)How can I help you?
(2)What can i help you with?
(3)Can i help you?


What kind of people would say what kind of sentence?

(1) usually customer service
(2) cosmetic saleslady


:wink:
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Old 25-Jun-2004, 08:31
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Default Re: degree of politeness

Quote:
Originally Posted by blacknomi
(1)How can I help you?
(2)What can i help you with?
(3)Can i help you?


What kind of people would say what kind of sentence?

(1) usually customer service
(2) cosmetic saleslady


:wink:
Both (1) and (2). :D
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Old 25-Jun-2004, 13:03
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Default Re: degree of politeness

Quote:
Originally Posted by Casiopea
Quote:
Originally Posted by blacknomi
(1)How can I help you?
(2)What can i help you with?
(3)Can i help you?


What kind of people would say what kind of sentence?

(1) usually customer service
(2) cosmetic saleslady


:wink:
Both (1) and (2). :D
I see. As for business communication, I think (1) and (2) are almost the same in degree of courtesy. But (3) is not as courteous as one and two. When I chat with my friends, I sometimes use (1) and (2) in a ironic way to give my friends a hint that they are all thumbs.

For example:

I was having pizza with my friend, Susan. Susan tried to slice the pizza but she failed. I thought maybe her cutter wasn't sharp so that she couldn't cut her pizza into pieces. I let her use mine. Susan tried zillions of time, still, it didn't work well at all. I was trying to tease her and say in a very sarcastic dragging tone, "Susan, what can I help you with!"


Hope you can figure out my meanings. Do Americans or British have the similiar usage?

:wink:
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Old 25-Jun-2004, 14:01
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Of the 3, I think the one I wouldn't use is 2).
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Old 25-Jun-2004, 14:18
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Default

You could also say (polite & rather formal):
How can I be of assistance to you?

FRC
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Old 25-Jun-2004, 23:30
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That sounds a bit wooden to me.
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Old 25-Jun-2004, 23:33
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Quote:
Originally Posted by tdol
Of the 3, I think the one I wouldn't use is 2).
I agree. In fact I've often herd the other two in department stores.
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Old 26-Jun-2004, 03:57
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Francois
You could also say (polite & rather formal):
How can I be of assistance to you?

FRC
I don't know? But to me, it sounds so wordy and awkward
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Old 26-Jun-2004, 09:39
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It depends on context I guess. You would not say that to a friend, but in some circumstances a wordy question is not amiss.

FRC
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Old 26-Jun-2004, 11:07
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You could use it in an ironic manner.
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