Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site lanl.ARPA Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!cbosgd!cbdkc1!desoto!cord!hudson!ihnp1!ihnp4!zehntel!dual!amd!pesnta!hplabs!hao!seismo!cmcl2!lanl!jlg From: jlg@lanl.ARPA Newsgroups: net.nlang Subject: Re: Don't mention it Message-ID: <17428@lanl.ARPA> Date: Wed, 5-Dec-84 15:29:14 EST Article-I.D.: lanl.17428 Posted: Wed Dec 5 15:29:14 1984 Date-Received: Fri, 7-Dec-84 05:39:01 EST References: <11800001@acf4.UUCP> Sender: newsreader@lanl.ARPA Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory Lines: 11 > When Alan Turing was in the U.S. in the late thirties he wrote home > complaining of Americans' speech habits. Among the things that annoyed > him was the reply "you're welcome" to "thank you." > What was he used to hearing instead? He was probably used to some variation on 'it was nothing' or 'don't mention it' (I don't remember the appropriate response in german). I recall a discussion about 'you're welcome' in a german class though. It appears that it sounds egotistical or pompous to non-americans. I always thought 'it was nothing' sounded a bit pompous, but it's all a matter of upbringing I guess.