I live in Canada and we always say 'you're welcome'. I am not used to getting 'uh-huh' as a response when I say thank you to people in USA. Are people being rude or is this just your way of speaking?
No matter how often I deal with people in the US, I still can't get used to it and I'm taken aback each time I hear it and can't help but wonder why they're being rude.
2007-08-01 03:42:24 · 15 answers · asked by tally 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Etiquette
I'm a US citizen, born and bred. You will never hear me say "uh-huh" in lieu of "you're welcome." I was raised better than that. I don't even say "uh-huh" when I really mean, "yes." I speak in words, not grunts.
It even bothers me when I take the time to sincerely thank a person and then that person grunts at me. It makes me wish I hadn't opened my mouth in the first place.
In answer to your question, no, this is not our way of speaking. It's rude. The people who do it probably don't mean to be rude, though. They do it to everyone and think nothing of it.
2007-08-01 06:01:58 · answer #1 · answered by Avie 7 · 0⤊ 2⤋
So what? Who made up these rules? Is there any reason why "you're welcome" is better than "uh-huh"? The purpose of both is acknowledgement. Just because you're accustomed to the former doesn't mean it's more polite. Besides, if you know that the person wouldn't intentionally hurt your feelings, then why worry about whether or not they're bending over backwards not to appear rude? And that thing about saying "uh-huh" when someone asks you to move, and then standing still, I've never had that happen to me nor have I done that.
2007-08-01 05:14:44 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
I wonder the same thing- sometimes I think people are just rude too. I'm from South Africa, and when I traveled to the U.S. for the first time, I also thought it rather rude for people not to say 'you're welcome'. However, there are lots of people who actually do say 'you're welcome', but also, if you ask someone to step out of the way, they say 'uh-huh', and don't move, that's annoying no matter where you are.
2007-08-01 03:49:22 · answer #3 · answered by 3rd LIFE 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I live in Canada and I hear "Uh-huh" or "Yeah" all the time from Canadians. I don't think there is anything wrong with this, unless it's said rudely. (In which case the issue isn't with one's choice of words, but with an attitude.) Maybe people think "You're welcome" sounds kind of formal in reply to a simple gesture. If I thank someone for holding a door open for me, I don't expect a "you're welcome" in response.
2007-08-01 04:57:19 · answer #4 · answered by nicredible 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I think it's both...rude and just a way of speaking. I think a lot of people just say 'uh-huh' without realizing that it's rude. I prefer to say 'your welcome' when someone thanks me. I've also caught myself saying 'no problem' when someone thanks me. That's probably rude as well, but hopefully not as rude as just saying 'uh huh'.
I think (some not all) Americans have let politeness go and have allowed rudeness to take over. With some people, you're lucky to get a thank you at all!
2007-08-01 05:16:49 · answer #5 · answered by Angelia 6 · 0⤊ 1⤋
I'd also have to say that I wouldn't assume rudeness. I almost always use 'uh-huh' because 'you're welcome' almost always seems to carry a patronizing tone with it, to my ears at least. Perhaps its because its used so often sarcastically. 'Uh-huh' seems to me like I am downplaying my action; being more humble.
2007-08-01 22:06:14 · answer #6 · answered by Casey A 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Some people get a little embarrassed by being thanks and so they say something informal like, "Sure" or "Uh huh" or "No big deal" when thanked instead of saying you are welcome. They aren't necessarily being rude, or aren't appreciative to you thanking them.
2007-08-01 16:15:00 · answer #7 · answered by missbeans 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
uh huh is shorter. so people tend
to say it if they are in a hurry or
are doing something else.
2007-08-01 04:54:03 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't understand it either! I've heard it in Canada as well. I would prefer a "you're welcome" as opposed to "uh-huh" any day!
2007-08-01 04:02:39 · answer #9 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
They're not being rude on purpose. Nine times out of ten they haven't had any home training. The rest think it looks silly to say "You're welcome".
2007-08-01 03:54:54 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 2⤊ 0⤋