BBC - Americanisms: 50 of your most noted examples

Hee hee!  No 7 on the 'noted examples' list. 

Shhhh! You're ruining my credibility as a justifiably indignant American!!! 

Hee hee!  No 7 on the 'noted examples' list. 

Damn you Americans coming over here changin' our werds!

I was referring to the comment made about it in the article, that's where the 90s New York thing came from.  Also, I was born and bred in New Jersey.  I know exactly how it works.  The difference is that I was raised to at least say "I would like a bagel and a large coffee, please." if in an informal setting.  I was raised that "Can I get..." is rude no matter who you're talking to.  My point was that it is not an Americanism, because I hear children saying it here all the time, as it's just bad manners (with the caveat of that's how I was raised and other people wouldn't necessarily consider it bad manners). 

I think it's all relative.  "Can I get..." doesn't bother near as much as what I hear around my current neck of the woods, which is "Go on and give me..."  (all mashed together like it's one word).  I know in my head it's just how people talk here, but every time I'm in a shop and hear someone say "Go on and give me a ..."  I can't help but cringe, and think it just sounds really rude.

I usually say can I get a whatever please.  Does that make it any better? 

Also, a previous member here used to say, I'll do a coffee (or the chicken, whatever) please.  Heh.  Nine times out of ten the server would look at her in complete confusion.

I feel mind-blowingly pedantic saying this, but phrases are rude or acceptable solely based on the consensus of the people using them. If "can I get a..." makes you nuts, you are outside the community of people who find it acceptable. Likewise, if it doesn't bother you, you are inside the "can I get a..." community. There is no right answer or moral dimension to this (and I'm someone who usually believes in moral dimensions and right answers), it's just which group is larger (or higher status or...whatever criteria you want to apply).

Honestly, we blow air across our vocal cords and waggle our tongues and flap our lips and these noises come out. What they mean is a collaborative exercise.

There. I feel better.

Interesting. My question is why "Can I get..." rude or bad manners? When you think of it, how much different is "Can I get?" than "May I get?" I think the definitions of the words are the same, you're both politely asking for permission to "get something."

We were taught in school that 'Can I' implies you are asking if you are capable of doing something, as in, 'Can I fly?' if you are asking if you have the ability to fly. 'May I' is asking permission, as in 'May I have ...', asking the person if they will allow you to have it, or get it for you if they are waiting on you.

I'm not sure 'Can I' is rude or bad manners, but simply considered by some to be bad grammar. Still, I agree that formal or informal language is used depending on the situation. I say things around friends and family I would never use in written language or in a more formal or business setting.

I feel mind-blowingly pedantic saying this, but phrases are rude or acceptable solely based on the consensus of the people using them. If "can I get a..." makes you nuts, you are outside the community of people who find it acceptable. Likewise, if it doesn't bother you, you are inside the "can I get a..." community. There is no right answer or moral dimension to this (and I'm someone who usually believes in moral dimensions and right answers), it's just which group is larger (or higher status or...whatever criteria you want to apply).

Honestly, we blow air across our vocal cords and waggle our tongues and flap our lips and these noises come out. What they mean is a collaborative exercise.

There. I feel better.

So you agree then, it (just) is what it is??   

I worked for a summer camp a couple of years running and my duties included running the snack bar. I wouldn't sell things to kids who said "can", insisting that they ask "may, I have/get" before I'd get it for them.  My own little crusade for proper grammar.

That said, I'm pretty sure I say "Can I have" when I order things.

Have is better than get, right? right? guys?

Like, totally.

If you've never read They're Made Out of Meat, it's well worth five minutes of your time.

They actually do talk, then. They use words, ideas, concepts?"

"Oh, yes. Except they do it with meat."

"I thought you just told me they used radio."

"They do, but what do you think is on the radio? Meat sounds. You know how when you slap or flap meat it makes a noise? They talk by flapping their meat at each other. They can even sing by squirting air through their meat."

"Omigod. Singing meat. This is altogether too much. So what do you advise?"

It occurred to me while reading all this that when I ask for my bus ticket, I either say 'Can I have a day rider, please?' or else I say 'Can I get a day rider, please?'  I think I interchange them & really don't pay much attention to what I'm saying at 7 am in the morning - it never even occurred to me that would be rude.  Lol! 

We were taught in school that 'Can I' implies you are asking if you are capable of doing something, as in, 'Can I fly?' if you are asking if you have the ability to fly. 'May I' is asking permission, as in 'May I have ...', asking the person if they will allow you to have it, or get it for you if they are waiting on you.

I'm not sure 'Can I' is rude or bad manners, but simply considered by some to be bad grammar. Still, I agree that formal or informal language is used depending on the situation. I say things around friends and family I would never use in written language or in a more formal or business setting.

Damn, so all this time I've been putting across the point that I could be incapable of obtaining a bagel and was really indirectly asking for the clerk's pity to do it for me.

Anyway I think tone of voice is huge with these sort of things, if you bark at someone one I don't care how many times you say please and thank you, you're infinitely more rude than saying "can I get...."

I've noticed in comparison to America the whole politeness thing goes overboard in England. I don't see the need to thank the bus driver, the cashier at Tesco's 6 times in one trip, or the waiter 40 times in one meal.

I suppose in some instance "can I get ..." would be appropriate. If you were asking if the dish or whatever were still available ...  But it still sounds "wrong" to me.

I'm sure it does, but it's just a regional thing like people were talking about a bunch of posts above. Maybe after I get the hell outta this city in 8 months time it'll start sounding wrong to me!

Damn, so all this time I've been putting across the point that I could be incapable of obtaining a bagel and was really indirectly asking for the clerk's pity to do it for me.

So now you know.  Of course, although I was taught to say 'May I', I don't think I have ever been offended by someone saying 'Can I', and I am sure I have said it a time or three myself. As long as I understand what someone is saying and they understand what I am saying I feel like it is a good way to communicate even if we feel the other says it differently or possibly 'wrong'.

I will tell you I read DH this article and he was laughing and saying some of this stuff has been said since he was a child and wasn't american - obviously.

The kids do say can I have a (insert fruit/drink here) I never think it is rude but they say please. Now I know May I was always more polite but I won't pick battles as long as please and thank you are said and it isn't offending IMO