What the British mean and what others hear

[TheFaQQer]

Might help some of us who are working internationally at the moment

[OwlHoot]

What the British Say ........... What the British mean ................. What others understand

oops, sorry ................. You clumsy oaf! ............. That's odd - Wasn't it me who trod on their foot?

[doodab]

This is very true. One thing I've noticed when working abroad is that understatement is rarely interpreted as such.

[petergriffin]

A true Brit should never speak English abroad, just like he doesn't at home.

[EternalOptimist]

what i say
I can do it in three months with a half decent spec.

what I mean -
you guys do not have the skills to produce any spec. you have a track record of incompentance, therefore it will take a year.

what they hear
it will take three months

[NotAllThere]

Said: I would do this... Meant: You must do this... Understood: I will do this...

I've been caught by that a few times.

[TheFaQQer]

Said: Who's taking ownership of this?
Meant: Which poor sod is getting landed with this steaming pile?
Heard: Phew, TF is going to solve this one.

[Mich the Tester]

what i say
I can do it in three months with a half decent spec.

what I mean -
you guys do not have the skills to produce any spec. you have a track record of incompentance, therefore it will take a year.

what they hear
it will take three months

Have you ever met anyone who CAN write really good specs?

[bobspud]

Might help some of us who are working internationally at the moment

My old company used to use that exact image on a course set up for UK employees that would be working with our Dutch counterparts.

[SueEllen]

Have you ever met anyone who CAN write really good specs?

Ever met a business that knows what it wants?