I bet no one would like to get direct rude "source" instead.
I bet no one would like to get direct rude "source" instead.
You bet wrongly. Rudeness carries information.
“Fucking hell, how many times have I asked you to XYZ” is different from “G’day gov’nor, terribly sorry to bother you. May I remind you to XYZ? Would you mind doing so at your earliest convenience? My deepest regards, toodeloo”.
The former conveys urgency and annoyance while the former conveys that you can keep ignoring it (and straining the relationship).
The latter (with its twisted mix of Australian, Cockney and Kings English) carries a calm sarcastic tone which indicates ones displeasure far more than the former, more vulgar statement, could ever hope to achieve.
One is however, reminded that Americans simply don't get our sarcasm, frequently leading to some amusing cultural clashes.
Regardless, in Blighty, such sarcasm is by no means twisted and indirect. It is as plain as the nose on ones face. As I said earlier, many Americans simply don't get such sarcasm, leading to comic clashes of culture.
This is a great way of summarizing a lot of the TV we’re getting in the US that have British characters, and it’s annoying once you notice it.
See how the accent changes in Lie to Me between season 1 and season 3:
But there is a reason no one is talking that way...