LL-L "Idiomatica" 2009.05.01 (08) [E]

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L O W L A N D S - L - 01 May 2009 - Volume 08
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From: LUCAS ANNEAR <annear at wisc.edu>
Subject: LL-L "Idiomatica" 2009.05.01 (06) [E]

Luc,

Although I'm American and have thus heard it my entire life, I think of it
as nearing the end of a really good meal that you want to finish but are
having troubles fitting in your stomach ; )  It _is_ work to finish some
meals, even when you want to!
I think it would also be neat to look into the semantics of the phrase "work
on" and also to see how the instances when it is used relate to each other.
 Clearly when we hear the phrase we don't think of any bad connotations
regarding the word "work", or think of what we're doing as something that we
don't want to do.

-Luke
Madison, Wisconsin, USA

----- Original Message -----
From: Lowlands-L List <lowlands.list at GMAIL.COM>
Date: Saturday, May 2, 2009 1:50 am
Subject: LL-L "Idiomatica" 2009.05.01 (06) [E]
To: LOWLANDS-L at LISTSERV.LINGUISTLIST.ORG


> From: Hellinckx Luc <luc.hellinckx at gmail.com>
> Subject: LL-L "Delectables"
>
> Beste Ron,
>
> How one expression can tell more about ethics than a whole dissertation:
>
> "Are you still *working* on that?"
>
> I got to know this question is usually asked by American waiters when
> people
> have (almost) finished their meal. I honestly couldn't believe it at
first,
> but after some research, I found out it's true.
> OK, the question may have somewhat lost its initial meaning, but to a
> high
> degree it still reflects the predominant value of "work" in American
> society. First of all, in many (most?) countries it's considered quite
> rude
> to actually ask people if they have finished their meal, and
secondly...the
> verb: "to work".
>
> To work?!?
>
> It really sounds as if "eating" is some necessary evil that you have
> to get
> over with as soon as possible. Something that you may even have to feel
> guilty about? Is eating considered like a job? In my opinion, it's the
> waiter who should be working and not the customer. Part of his job is
> to
> serve and make customers feel at ease. To my knowledge, "Ober" is not
> short
> for "Obersturmbahnführer" ;=)
>
> But then again, the Southern Dutch are mockingly called Burgundians by
> the
> Northerners, so maybe religion does play a role in all this? Where did
> this
> American habit come from? Is it also custom when people are merely
> having a
> drink?
>
> Kind greetings,
>
> Luc Hellinckx
>
> ----------
>
> From: R. F. Hahn <sassisch at yahoo.com>
> Subject: Idiomatica
>
> Hey, Luc!
>
> Ha-ha! Am I surprised to "hear" The Luc psychoanalyzing that expression?
>
> *Ja, ja! Andere Länder, andere Sitten.*
>
>
>    1. In the US and Canada, a familiar, casual tone is now fashionable
> in
>    the catering industry and in most other areas of customer
communication.
>    It's perceived as friendly, as opposed to the older subservient or
> servile
>    behavior that is still the norm in most other countries, especially
> Europe.
>    I am surprised, though, that that American waiter has not been
> briefed that
>    his tone and expressions might offend or at least mystify European
>    customers. Personally, perhaps because I am used to it, I prefer
> the more
>    casual tone, because, while I'm for politeness, I'm not crazy about
>    expressions of subservience, especially when they are fake and are
>    accompanied by surly expressions and rude behavior as I have
encountered
>    plenty of times in Europe. Besides, American waiters depend on
> tips, and
>    this motivates them to be "friendly".
>
>    2. Personally I believe that "working on it" in connection with food
>    originally had to do with children that did not *want* to finish their
>    meals, so introduced into an adult context it has a bit of a funny
> ring to
>    it.
>
> Regards,
> Reinhard/Ron
> Seattle, USA

•

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