# The Asian Response? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [June 13, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854 "2008-06-13T20:35:46Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 8:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854/1 "2008-06-13T20:35:46Z")
At work (Valet Driving at Ballys Park Place in Atlantic City) we employees must go through a certain spiel with our employees: “Good morning/afternoon/evening, ma’am/sir, I’m Enola Straight…and you are?..well, is there anything else I can do for you tonight?..thank you for coming to Ballys…hope you enjoyed your stay.” Something I’ve notice about Asian customers…who don’t speak english all that well…is the response: When I ask “and you are?”, instead of telling me their name after I told them mine, they often say “Yeah!” 😕 I also deliver cars to Hispanic and non-english speaking European foreign nationals, and they do not reply “Yeah”. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854/2 "2008-06-13T20:38:07Z")
Maybe they aren’t familiar with that way of asking for a name? (And why do you need their name?) ---
**Author:** ![Schnitte](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/schnitte/32/9033_2.png) [@Schnitte](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Schnitte)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854/3 "2008-06-13T20:50:35Z")
My guess would be that they don’t understand the question, but they consider it impolite to say nothing, so they reply with a meaningless “yeah.” Why don’t non-English speakers from elsewhere do that? Maybe it’s a cultural thing, a taboo which is stronger in Asia than elsewhere not to remain silent after being addressed. This is just a WAG, of course. ---
**Author:** ![Terminus\_Est](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terminus_est/32/3087_2.png) [@Terminus\_Est](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Terminus_Est)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 8:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854/4 "2008-06-13T20:51:05Z")
It’s often taboo in certain Asian cultures to say “no” outright. Being confronted with something they don’t understand but is obviously a question, the most acceptable answer is to say “yeah!” Did you find everything that you need? - Yeah! You want fries with that? - Yeah! For here or to go? - Yeah! And you are? - Yeah! ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 8:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854/5 "2008-06-13T20:56:20Z")
[QUOTE=Terminus Est] It’s often taboo in certain Asian cultures to say “no” outright. Being confronted with something they don’t understand but is obviously a question, the most acceptable answer is to say “yeah!” [/QUOTE] Working with my Japanese counterparts at one of our partially-owned subsidiaries is frustrating to no end. “Yes” is always the response. It’s of utmost importance to _not_ finish a conversation with “Do you understand all that?” because the answer will always be “yes.” It’s much, much better to ask them to paraphrase the entire conversation so that you can confirm that they do understand. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854/6 "2008-06-13T20:59:24Z")
[QUOTE=gigi] Maybe they aren’t familiar with that way of asking for a name? (And why do you need their name?) [/QUOTE] It’s part of achieving Quality with our Behaviors: We ask the customer for their name so we an address them personally, i.e. Mr. Jones is more intimate and memorable than just “sir”. Also We must be friendly and helpful, as well as anticipate customer needs : Is there anything else I can do for you? ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 9:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854/7 "2008-06-13T21:02:02Z")
[QUOTE=Enola Straight] It’s part of achieving Quality with our Behaviors: We ask the customer for their name so we an address them personally, i.e. Mr. Jones is more intimate and memorable than just “sir”. Also We must be friendly and helpful, as well as anticipate customer needs : Is there anything else I can do for you? [/QUOTE] How 'bout a hand job? “Yeah!” :eek: ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854/8 "2008-06-13T21:27:21Z")
[QUOTE=Enola Straight] It’s part of achieving Quality with our Behaviors: We ask the customer for their name so we an address them personally, i.e. Mr. Jones is more intimate and memorable than just “sir”. Also We must be friendly and helpful, as well as anticipate customer needs : Is there anything else I can do for you? [/QUOTE] No disrespect to you, **Enola** , but I’ll say it’s “intimate and memorable.” I’d probably never go back someplace that every time I turned around someone was asking me to identify myself. Two, maybe three, "And you are"s into my experience, I’d be ready to snap someone in half. ---
**Author:** ![gigi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a587f6/32.png) [@gigi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gigi)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 10:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854/9 "2008-06-13T22:12:17Z")
Exactly. ---
**Author:** ![Stainz](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/ecd19e/32.png) [@Stainz](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stainz)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854/10 "2008-06-13T22:13:50Z")
Well, I doubt **enola** came up with the “and you are…?” policy. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2008, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854/11 "2008-06-13T22:22:14Z")
The thought occurs to me that if you introduce yourself as **Enola Straight** to a Japanese tourist, the mind makes a not-too-obscure connection to a certain historic event, and… Could explain a lot! 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Yorikke](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/yorikke/32/4335_2.png) [@Yorikke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Yorikke)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 12:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854/12 "2008-06-14T00:11:09Z")
I deal with tons of customers who barely understand English - Mexicans, Phillipinos, Koreans, and lots of other Asians. They often just smile and nod, or say “Yes” when I ask a question. “Would you like matches or a lighter with the cigarettes?” “Yes!” “Which, matches or a lighter?” “Yes!” “Never mind…” "Yes! Joe ---
**Author:** ![Moirai](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/96bed5/32.png) [@Moirai](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Moirai)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854/13 "2008-06-14T01:46:58Z")
[QUOTE=Really Not All That Bright] How 'bout a hand job? “Yeah!” :eek: [/QUOTE] I just snorted a bit of water out of my nose… 😃 When I have stayed at very nice places, the valet asked my name when I first arrived. After that, every damned valet remembered my name! :eek: It was kind of freaky… ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 2:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854/14 "2008-06-14T02:03:58Z")
This is meant as no disrespect to the OP (as it might well just be a personal thing of mine), but I find “And you are?” has something snotty about it, a bit like “Your point being?” I’d only use “And you are?” in a potentially adversarial situation when a stranger has butted in and started telling me how to do my job, etc. I imagine a touch of snark behind it. It’s also an unusual word formation for a non-native speaker. I think I’d just go with, “I’m sorry. I don’t know your name.” ---
**Author:** ![TheLoadedDog](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/35a633/32.png) [@TheLoadedDog](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TheLoadedDog)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 2:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854/15 "2008-06-14T02:09:19Z")
[QUOTE=EJsGirl] When I have stayed at very nice places, the valet asked my name when I first arrived. After that, every damned valet remembered my name! :eek: It was kind of freaky… [/QUOTE] Yeah, it’s weird - but also very clever. My mother said she went to a very upscale bar with a small group, and when she went back the next day with the same group, the bartender placed everybody’s drinks in front of them on the left or right depending on his (perfect) memory of whether they were left or right handed. ---
**Author:** ![Enola\_Straight](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/dec6dc/32.png) [@Enola\_Straight](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Enola_Straight)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 6:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854/16 "2008-06-14T06:27:25Z")
[QUOTE=Musicat] The thought occurs to me that if you introduce yourself as **Enola Straight** to a Japanese tourist, the mind makes a not-too-obscure connection to a certain historic event, and… Could explain a lot! 🙂 [/QUOTE] I, of course, use my real name instead of my screenname. ---
**Author:** ![Bill\_Door](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/50afbb/32.png) [@Bill\_Door](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bill_Door)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 12:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854/17 "2008-06-14T12:33:55Z")
Maybe they’ve studied Descartes ands think you’re asking them if they exist. “And you are?”, “Why yes, yes I am.” ---
**Author:** ![Lust4Life](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/ecc23a/32.png) [@Lust4Life](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lust4Life)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 12:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854/18 "2008-06-14T12:51:35Z")
[QUOTE=wheresgeorge04] I deal with tons of customers who barely understand English - Mexicans, Phillipinos, Koreans, and lots of other Asians. They often just smile and nod, or say “Yes” when I ask a question. “Would you like matches or a lighter with the cigarettes?” “Yes!” “Which, matches or a lighter?” “Yes!” “Never mind…” "Yes! e [/QUOTE] On British construction sites we have huge numbers of East Europeans workers and we have the same problem,however as the construction industry has the greatest number of deaths per industry it is not a minor matter and it is exacerbated by the migrant workers usually looking exactly like the homegrown variety and the sometimes few words of English that they have learned by ear being pronounced in our local accent. One Pole I came across on site only knew “Yeah mate” in a totally convincing Cockney accent with which he answered any person who spoke English to him. He was only laid off after being discovered smoking in the area of a suspected gas leak,a manager had told him to leave the area and received the expected answer only to return and find this bloke not only still there but having a smoko. ---
**Author:** ![Fear\_Itself](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fear_itself/32/19637_2.png) [@Fear\_Itself](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fear_Itself)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 1:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854/19 "2008-06-14T13:00:31Z")
[QUOTE=Enola Straight] When I ask “and you are?” [/QUOTE] I find this an odd phrase to ask for someone’s name, and can easily see why a person with limited familiarity with English would not understand. ---
**Author:** ![Grey\_area](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Grey\_area](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Grey_area)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2008, 1:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854/20 "2008-06-14T13:27:45Z")
[QUOTE=TheLoadedDog] This is meant as no disrespect to the OP (as it might well just be a personal thing of mine), but I find “And you are?” has something snotty about it, a bit like “Your point being?” I’d only use “And you are?” in a potentially adversarial situation when a stranger has butted in and started telling me how to do my job, etc. I imagine a touch of snark behind it. It’s also an unusual word formation for a non-native speaker. I think I’d just go with, “I’m sorry. I don’t know your name.” [/QUOTE] I tend to agree that “and you are?” doesn’t strike me as the most polite method of asking for someone’s name. But if that’s what they told you to say then… Anyway, I agree it’s probably a language issue but also that in certain Asian cultures you only address those subordinate to you by name and your superiors (older, higher rank, etc) are usually addressed by their rank/title/position, or their name in conjunction them. Names aren’t something you casually toss around to anyone. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-asian-response/452854.md?page=2)