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Temat: Use of understatement in English:

In British English, (according to books on sociolinguistics anyway), dramatic and shocking events are downplayed, whereas less important happenings are overplayed.

For example, "I'm afraid there's been an accident. Your wife has been killed".

or

"Something terrible has happened! I defrosted the fridge by mistake!"

Have any Polish members of the forum encountered this in real life situations, and how did you feel about this use of language?

And do our native speakers believe that this is how we really describe such events?warren whitmore edytował(a) ten post dnia 04.05.08 o godzinie 00:02
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Temat: Use of understatement in English:

Pasting what I've already written on DYSE:

I'm talking to one of my bosses, his telephone rings, he answers, bla, bla, bla, he puts the phone down and says: "Sorry about that, I've got a kind of my problem. My brother has died". So I say: "Oh, I'm sorry" and he replies: "oh, no, no.. it's nothing. He had cancer" and gets back to our discussion..

I couldn't believe it. Rather shocking, isn't it?
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Temat: Use of understatement in English:

I set up the thread for you.

It isn't really shocking if this is how you have been brought up to behave.

I presume the example that you gave isn't taken from real life.

Or is it?
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Temat: Use of understatement in English:

warren whitmore:
I set up the thread for you.

Thanks, that's exactly what I thought when I saw it.

It isn't really shocking if this is how you have been brought up to behave.

I guess so.

I presume the example that you gave isn't taken from real life.

Or is it?

Yes, it is. I wouldn't be shocked if I heard it in a British comedy because I would think it's just another example of the famous British sense of humour.. but in real life.. I must say it was an astonishing experience.

On the other hand, hearing such a conversation is just normal (yes, also from real life):

- You won't believe what happened to me yesterday!
- What?
- No, you won't believe!!
- What? Tell me!!
- I missed my station on the way to work!
- No!
- Yes!!
- Unbelievable!! And what did you do?
- Nothing, had to walk back.
- Walk back? Half a mile?? Poor you.
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Temat: Use of understatement in English:

Real life story.
(B)ig Boss: so how was you weekend anyway? Did you enjoy the North?
(M)e: I didn't go. My friend died and I had to stay in Dublin.
(B): oh.

Two days later:
(B): you'll not believe it. Some f****r bumped into C.'s van and he has to go and get the doors replaced. Can you imagine what sort of trouble he will have to get through????!!
(M)e: right...

So yes, this is true, especially when the death is concerned. (As far as I noticed, since I have heard few more conversations like the one in Patrycja's reply).
On the other hand, traffic seems to be the major problem and source of all misery. As if 10 years of backtailing haven't been enough to get used to it...
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Temat: Use of understatement in English:

I would say that in English speaking countries, important, shocking or tragic news is delivered 'straight', in hushed tones, without hyperbole, in order to convey 'seriousness'.

Anyone saying, 'OMG 'X' has died, what are we going to do!!!', would be thought of as being a 'ham-actor' or 'drama-queen'.

How would you say such things in Polish then?

Some years ago, a member of my immediate family died, and I was just told, on the telephone, 'X nie zyje, rozumiesz'.

However, that may have been due to my lack of proficiency in Polish.

Attitudes to death vary greatly from country to country.

In Ireland, I believe they have wakes, but not in the South of England.

We don't really have the custom of visiting dead people.

Also, in recent years, funerals in England have become very informal affairs.

I'll set up a new thread to discuss this if anyone's interested.
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Temat: Use of understatement in English:

I worked for a photo place for few years and I noticed that in few South American countries, people would not only visit the dead, but also take pictures and display them in visible places around the house like top of the fire place etc. Very weird. Death is always a very interesting topic.
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Temat: Use of understatement in English:

Warren
It's all about the Power of Taste - quoting Herbert. Mind that I'm not a translator but there was something like this:

Esthetic can be a help in life
Don't give up learning about beauty
Before you decide to take part
You should thoroughly check
the rhythm of instruments,
official colours, the rituals of funerals.
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Sylwia Łubkowska

Sylwia Łubkowska Nauczyciel oraz
tłumacz j.
angielskiego

Temat: Use of understatement in English:

Rafal Wolk:
Death is always a very interesting topic.

True. What I found interesting in the UK (and different to the Polish custom) was notification of someone's death by email. While in Poland we have obituaries printed in local papers and sometimes even displayed on trees and fences in smaller towns and villages, in the UK people seem to spread the news by email, with a short description of the life and virtues of the deceased family member or friend. I suppose this is only true of the younger, computer-wise generation, but I've recently received three such notifications. Is this really becoming a trend or is it just my luck?
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Temat: Use of understatement in English:

I suppose this is only true of the younger,
computer-wise generation, but I've recently received three such notifications. Is this really becoming a trend or is it just my luck?

I can't really comment as I've not really lived much in the UK during the 'internet' era. My guess is that it depends on who the person is who has died, and their relationship to the recipient of the mail. If it was a large office or company and someone died, then why not notify the staff by email. In my eyes I don't see it any different to a piece of paper stuck on the wall.
Yet, close friends informing each other about their common friend's death.... I wouldn't have thought so.
However, who'd have thought that people would dump their boy/girlfriend by email?
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Temat: Use of understatement in English:

Steven H.:
However, who'd have thought that people would dump their boy/girlfriend by email?

Have you??? This makes a great F4F question!
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Keith Byrne

Keith Byrne Director, Select
Training Solutions

Temat: Use of understatement in English:

Tatiana S.:
Steven H.:
However, who'd have thought that people would dump their boy/girlfriend by email?

Have you??? This makes a great F4F question!

I think FFF, or 3F, is a better abbreviation.
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Temat: Use of understatement in English:

I like F4F.. it could be misinterpreted in many fun fun ways!
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Jamie Stokes

Jamie Stokes Redaktor

Temat: Use of understatement in English:

Understatement is a cornerstone of British culture, less so in US culture so I'm not sure I agree that it can be generalised to the Englsih-speaking world.

I think it's strongly connected to the British dislike of overt displays of emotion. This is often misinterpreted as coldness, although I think in fact it's much more to do with a highly developed sensitivity to showing off (or being 'hammy' as Warren said).

The overstatement of small inconveniences, real or perceived, is also connected. I'm thinking in particular of the over elaborate use of 'pardon me's' 'excuse me's' and 'would you mind's' that litter common requests in British English. I find myself unconsciously indulging in this to an extreme degree whenever I'm back in the UK. Last time I caught myself saying "Excuse me. I wonder if I could possibly borrow your ketchup if you don't mind" to a guy on the next table in a greasy spoon.
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Sylwia Łubkowska

Sylwia Łubkowska Nauczyciel oraz
tłumacz j.
angielskiego

Temat: Use of understatement in English:

Steven H.:
I suppose this is only true of the younger,
computer-wise generation, but I've recently received three such notifications. Is this really becoming a trend or is it just my luck?

I can't really comment as I've not really lived much in the UK during the 'internet' era. My guess is that it depends on who the person is who has died, and their relationship to the recipient of the mail. If it was a large office or company and someone died, then why not notify the staff by email. In my eyes I don't see it any different to a piece of paper stuck on the wall.
Yet, close friends informing each other about their common friend's death.... I wouldn't have thought so.

Two of the cases were deaths of my close friends' fathers and one a friend (not that close) having had a car accident. I actually found out my friend's dad had passed away by word of mouth from another friend, but was still included in the batch of recipients of his obituary email. It was quite formal and serious but I think its purpose was more than just informative, it was the sort of thing I would expect to hear at a funeral. Like 'He was a good man and I'm sure those of you who knew him personally remember how he used to smile a lot, etc.) - it was quite elaborate. We don't send emails like this (yet?). We offer condolences personally at the funeral or on the phone. When sticking out a note, we only inform of a funeral date and may add something like 'peace be upon his soul', etc.
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