Hello. Sorry for being curious, but I'm attending a music school in the United Kingdom. I wonder: is there a similarity between proper Southern manners and proper British manners (i.e. uses of 'sir' and 'ma'am')?
2007-03-24 20:22:00 · 6 answers · asked by Donny P 4 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
These people seem to be giving the opinion from the British point of view but as an American Southerner I have to agree with them in terms of how people act today. It takes too long to explain but let's just say they are far bigger fans of, how shall we say, base behaviour than where I'm from.
It might have originated there given that so many Southerners are of British descent but I think for the most part polite people everywhere display the same type of impeccable manners regardless of origin.
2007-03-25 08:59:45 · answer #1 · answered by Savalatte 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No, there is no similarity. Just one example springs to mind: a lady in a restaurant would never address a waiter as "Sir" in Britain as she might do in the (Southern) United States.
And the British, in fact pretty much the whole world, find the American handling of table cutlery really hilarious.
2007-03-25 02:22:01 · answer #2 · answered by Vivagaribaldi 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
in general conversation you wouldn't call people 'sir' or 'madam' unless you were in the forces or serving the general public in a retail environment
also we drive on the 'other' side of the road to you in the USA
our accents all sound posh (in the south of the UK) and incomprehensible in the north of the UK
also in the UK people tend not to offer their opinions very readily until they get to know you - so as an American in the UK i would bear that in mind
also here in the UK we couldn't care less about American party politics (i wish that imported American programs would realize this too)
the British physce is about tolerance, freedom of speech and fair play for all
and as a Brit who has been to the states and loved it - a word of warning - we are more different than it would at first appear - same language (yes) but very different outlook.
2007-03-24 22:20:12 · answer #3 · answered by Aslan 6 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Of course there is. Southern manners evolved from English manners. Even the southern accent actually came from the aristocrats from England.
Just be yourself and don't offend anyone.
2007-03-24 20:52:53 · answer #4 · answered by j_mang 3 · 1⤊ 1⤋
The use of sir / ma'm can sound facetious or servile, depending on the context and the person you're addressing. Either way, I'd not recommend it outside the States.
2007-03-24 21:30:47 · answer #5 · answered by jojo000078 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
in the uk we dont really call people sir or ma'am.the only time you call someone sir or miss is in school(teachers)
2007-03-24 20:28:19 · answer #6 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋