That is, I've been noticing little linguistic gems that Monty Python, Jane Austen, A Muppet Christmas Carol, and Robert Downey, Jr. as Sherlock Holmes did not prepare me to hear.
To wit: In America, if a task's outcome will not be worth the effort you put into it, you say it's "too much trouble." Or, if you're in Tennessee, you might say that "the juice ain't worth the squeeze." Problem solved. The phrases communicate that the job is too small to matter. Let's move on. What, then, shall we do?
In Britain, one says, "I can't be bothered." One utters it with a shrug, a chuckle, or an exasperated hands-in-the-air. The speaker's demeanor is humble enough; usually the phrase just signals a judicious bowing-out.
Here's my problem with the phrase: "can't be bothered" elevates the performer of the task. One suddenly thinks of all the things they have on their plate. Rather than the chore being too small, the person is too grand, too lofty.
It's a subtle change from "too much trouble" to "can't be bothered," but I'm still trying to work out why it unsettles me. Maybe it sets off my passive-aggression radar, like one might really be saying:
To wit: In America, if a task's outcome will not be worth the effort you put into it, you say it's "too much trouble." Or, if you're in Tennessee, you might say that "the juice ain't worth the squeeze." Problem solved. The phrases communicate that the job is too small to matter. Let's move on. What, then, shall we do?
In Britain, one says, "I can't be bothered." One utters it with a shrug, a chuckle, or an exasperated hands-in-the-air. The speaker's demeanor is humble enough; usually the phrase just signals a judicious bowing-out.
Here's my problem with the phrase: "can't be bothered" elevates the performer of the task. One suddenly thinks of all the things they have on their plate. Rather than the chore being too small, the person is too grand, too lofty.
It's a subtle change from "too much trouble" to "can't be bothered," but I'm still trying to work out why it unsettles me. Maybe it sets off my passive-aggression radar, like one might really be saying:
"I can't be bothered, I'm far too busy and important, please notice my furrowed brow and the way my neck hurts."
Perhaps I'm reading too much into it. I'll definitely allow that possibility, since it won't be long before I'll probably not be able to be bothered myself.
One more, though, before I get too busy and my neck hurts:
If something is not appropriate, won't work, or won't aid the flourishing of society, the British say "that's not on." That's all. And in three words, they've earmarked a misstep, pointed out a vexing disregard for the Way Things Are Done, or exposed a revolting stray from decency.
I find it to be a gloriously efficient finger-wag at whatever needs condemning. I'm keeping it in my back pocket for the day my students really start swinging from the rafters.
"Monty Python, Jane Austen, A Muppet Christmas Carol, and Robert Downey, Jr. as Sherlock Holmes"
ReplyDeleteYou deserve some sort of prize for that list.
ohoh
ReplyDeleteWhen I was staying with a british family in scotland
They showed me to the guest room and i settled in and then my friends mom shouted from downstairs:
"Abby, Are you happy???"
I was like
"what?"
so confused i didn't even know how to respond.
cause like...i had JUST met her
and i thought it was weird that she was asking me if i was happy.
i mean THAT's kind of personal.
i was like, i mean i'm a pretty happy personal overall?
like what?
and then she responded
"are you happy up there?"
and i was all
ohhhhh
she means: "is the room alright? do you need anything?"
and then i totaaaaallllyyyyy read into what this meant culturally (i love that you do that too)
and overall decided that it was a wonderful thing
she wasn't asking me if things were alright comparatively,
she wasn't asking me if all my basic human needs were satisfied (bed, bathroom, british fashion magazines, etc)
but she was wondering if everything was alright for ME, particularly,
do they make me happy, content?
aka I should be, above all, content and happy,
it's the most important quality to satisfy
(i answered "yes" of course because i was in scotland
and because my friend lives on an estate
and her mom had put fresh flowers on my bedside table
and a pitcher of water and glasses on the vanity
and a window seat
and, of course, british fashion magazines)
I look forward to the day you return to me and I catch you with an obnoxious "oops" after you mistakenly utter "I can't be bothered."
ReplyDelete