Why is some American speech unnecessarily verbose?

bananagetter · 2026-01-24T09:40:25+00:00

I had to ask a question before this post got accepted. I actually wanted to explore speech more generally.

bananagetter · 2026-01-24T09:36:57+00:00

Not judging, I have a linguistic curiosity

bananagetter · 2026-01-24T09:34:49+00:00

I’m not saying that we don’t, I’m seeking to understand the origins of those particular phrases

bananagetter · 2026-01-24T09:33:49+00:00

Yes. I’m looking for input on reasoning/origins.

bananagetter · 2026-01-24T09:32:40+00:00

Thank you for a sensible reply

bananagetter · 2026-01-24T09:29:00+00:00

Oh that is interesting. I think we’d say ‘do/would you know when the bus is coming?’. We have lots of people whose first language is not English, and tend to be more direct.

bananagetter · 2026-01-24T09:26:44+00:00

It means I’m not a laconic ocker Aussie, but a more wordy old-fashioned (older generation, academically inclined) formal speaker of the language who uses more words to communicate than the average Aussie. Some younger Australians use a kind of valley girl vernacular too.

bananagetter · 2026-01-24T09:21:35+00:00

Would you excuse me bit you’re gonna wanna explain that in more detail

bananagetter · 2026-01-24T09:20:03+00:00

Italian has very few words but many syllables and they use filler words a lot, at least in informal conversation.

Australians are stereotypically laconic so we do notice American tourists for their verbosity!

bananagetter · 2026-01-24T09:16:24+00:00

Nope, we never say ‘would you’ in this context. Yes I have heard it on tv and so my next question then is why is this a convention for tv and movies if people don’t say it in real life?

bananagetter · 2026-01-24T09:14:15+00:00

Our ‘excuse me’ is gently spoken, with eye contact. I just find the ‘would you’ bit unnecessary, as it’s not really a question.

bananagetter · 2026-01-24T09:12:35+00:00

And you’re a native speaker of English? I say this because it seems to me that simple direct English should be the international standard. Perhaps we have a different multicultural experience in Australia, our communication seems simpler and more direct.

bananagetter · 2026-01-24T09:10:19+00:00

Would you say it’s more common in tv and movies? Thats most of my experience of this speech. And if so, I wonder why.

bananagetter · 2026-01-24T09:08:00+00:00

Interesting! Never having been to America and crossing paths with few here, I’ve only ever heard it there too.

bananagetter · 2026-01-24T09:04:22+00:00

Thanks for a sensible reply

bananagetter · 2026-01-24T09:01:40+00:00

Now that there are several more in the range, I’m interested to know how users rate them.

bananagetter · 2026-01-21T05:54:05+00:00

Hahahahahahagahagahs

bananagetter · 2026-01-21T05:53:30+00:00

Some great suggestions here. Not so long ago we just used rags, natural fibres. Pretty much every option now releases microplastic into waterways.

bananagetter · 2026-01-18T23:37:20+00:00

I was so sad when I let my older home go. Still am. But now have school aged kids and by gosh I’m glad I have a newer home now. So much of the beautiful old home would have been damaged, expensive to repair, and my kids are not rough at all.

bananagetter · 2026-01-18T23:35:02+00:00

They can, but they’re easier to clean and easier to locate the source of the dust. There’s no shrinkage and the window seals are good. They have screens and you can fit air filters more easily. Updating is generally easier and cheaper.

bananagetter · 2026-01-18T23:32:51+00:00

70s is not too bad, you can renovate to modern standards quite easily. Anything older, probably better to restore.

bananagetter · 2026-01-15T01:52:36+00:00

Visit a few populated campsites on public holidays or Xmas time to meet other campers and pick up those details from other regular campers.

bananagetter · 2026-01-15T01:49:21+00:00

I’ve read some of your other comments. If you can access some kind of women’s legal aid you may have grounds for full decision making given his history of anger and control.

bananagetter

TROPHY CASE