You're very much welcome

[Arnold M. Zwicky]

On Aug 21, 2007, at 6:44 AM, Larry Urdang wrote:

> At least it is a friendly, polite, well-intentioned response.
>   Compare "No problem," which smacks of snide condescension.

that's your perception, but it is of course almost surely not the
speakers' intention.  (you're projecting motives and attitudes onto
the speakers -- probably unavoidably, but you could also ask what
speakers are trying to do with the variants they choose.)

in the simplest power/solidarity terms, you're assuming the
expression conveys a power relationship, but the people who use these
expressions are in fact using them to convey solidarity -- they're
being nice to you by treating you as they would a close acquaintance
in informal contexts.

arnold

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