Is there a name for modal verbs used to convey politeness?

eveninghope · 2 days

So is politeness not something we classify in English? I understand the phenomenon and how it relates to English speakers. More or less, you're giving someone the option as to whether or not they're going to pass the salt, even though it's implied that they will. Other examples: "Would it be possible to...?" "It would be great if..." etc. I can't think of any way to succinctly describe this aspect of the language.

eveninghope · 3 days

lol Yeah I got a couple of them from a couple different "businessmen." I tried to tell this guy that it was pretty sketchy, but he was all gung ho about it.

eveninghope · 4 days

Thanks! I've started low-carb this past weekend. I'll look into this!

InTheSphere · 4 days

My friends and I have this conversation often actually. It definitely comes off as pretentious. And I agree, it's not "wrong," it's just the American accent. English is an amazing, highly dynamic and ever-adapting language. If a word has been adopted by the language, Americans now pronounce it a certain way. @OP - Personally, with Spanish words, I use a Spanish pronunciation, but I'm Mexican American, but with words from other languages, I just use the American pronunciation.

op1500 · 5 days

Yeah, I remember reading a couple AMA's and articles about parents who adopted Russian kids with similar results. I wonder if it happens with other cultures or specifically Russian kids.

redditmyA · 5 days

Korean traditional folk culture is literally the best thing about this country imo. It's too bad westerners are completely unaware of it. Also, I REALLY want a sang-mo!

Xangent · 7 days

Yeah, mine is pretty mild, but it's hard for me to do ANY studying except when it comes to language. I feel that the thing that helps most is having native speakers to talk to. It's like you're studying but not studying. Also, very structured lessons/books help because it gives me steps to focus on, then level up, etc.

chj88 · 8 days

It's kind of a funny project because there really are so many foreigners living in Seoul, especially English teachers. You could take some street shots in Itaewon.

HomoMalus · 9 days

As far as access to native speakers, someone posted this link yesterday http://www.forvo.com/ so you don't have to deal w/ RS.

novadaemon · 9 days

A couple friends of mine are going. I'll decide after I hear reviews from them. I read an article on it in the KTX mag, and it didn't seem that awesome.

Rock_Wallaby · 11 days

I'm in the process of growing out my fringe and definitely if I don't clip them back I end up with a headache due to the hair obstructing my vision.

GavriloPrincep · 11 days

Also, you can shuffle flashcards so you don't have to practice in the same order all the time.

ShaneVICE · 16 days

I don't know for a fact, as I've never done it, but from all the research I've done it seems a lot harder to get a journalist's visa. A tourist visa is just a matter of expense really.

Stair_Car · 21 days

I have the same problems. I started taking Kom Do for a couple months and only now am starting to form relationships with people there. Making friends definitely takes time and consistency.

wybird · 21 days

I like asking people about where they're from (and like being asked about where I'm from). People always love talking about it and it's awesome to get genuine perspective on different places.

wybird · 21 days

I disagree. I feel like the "where have you traveled" question ends up turning into the asker just wanting to talk about where they've traveled.

gnimsh · 24 days

I think it's more like, living in an area with a lot of foreigners everyone has their own friends and stuff so no one really goes out of their way to make new ones via spontaneous conversation. Think of it like you were back home and started randomly talking to a group of people on the bus or elevator. They'd probs give you strange looks too. In bigger cities foreigners don't feel like "we're in this together." In the suburb I lived in last year everyone was friends, but this year there are so many foreigners that no one talks to each other. I don't think it's a "my Korea" thing so much as like, regular life.

poptcorn · 25 days

You're probably fine.

poptcorn · 25 days

When are you going? If rainy season, you could look into getting one of these: link

eveninghope

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