http://msbermejo.blogspot.com/2014/04/translation-table-explaining-truth.html
Most of the points make sense to me. But personally I don't quite agree with the following.
With the greatest respect (I know 'with due respect' means you are wrong. But is 'with the greatest respect' an offensive phrase?)
I would suggest (Yes, that's an idea I firmly hold. But that doesn't mean you'll suffer if you don't listen to me.)
Oh, incidentally/ by the way (In the film 'the Mummy', the female main character says, 'By the way, why did you kiss me?' This question is actually what she is most concerned about. But the male main character doesn't seem to know her psychology. Is he just too stupid to understand his native language?)
I was a bit disappointed that (In some cases, it can be true.)
Very interesting (Do British people all speak that sarcastically? That'll be horrible.)
I'll bear it in mind (Is it just too sterotypical?)
I'm sure it's my fault
What's your opinoin?
Yes, I know that it's commonly used, but I'm not sure that makes it right!
Trust your instinct and your ear. They are your good friends.
You weren't wrong. In modern English, they can be used to refer to one person if you don't want to specify their sex.
"You just have to pay more attention to a person's tone of voice and body language when HE makes a comment to you" -- sorry, darned singular "they"!!
The British are much more outwardly polite and less direct in their speech than Americans and Australians. They do not like to come out and say rude things, or that they disagree with you. In this way, I think they are more like the Chinese! But I don't think it's so bad as this person makes it out to be. You just have to pay more attention to a person's tone of voice and body language when they make a comment to you, just like you do anywhere.
