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 Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 10/25/2018 Posts: 1,821 Neurons: 8,268 Location: İstoç, Istanbul, Turkey
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Hi University professor: Michael, would you please answer this question?
Michael: [answers the question]
Professor: Thank you.
Michael: You're welcome/no problem/no worries/sure/ don't mention it....
What would be the most appropriate response/s to the professor saying "thank you" in the above?
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 Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 6/4/2015 Posts: 5,676 Neurons: 1,269,998 Location: Vinton, Iowa, United States
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You're welcome.
All the others are slang terms. Some or many people would consider them rude in certain situations.
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 Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 8/13/2016 Posts: 346 Neurons: 2,164 Location: Calabasas, California, United States
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Wilmar (USA) 1M wrote:You're welcome.
All the others are slang terms. Some or many people would consider them rude in certain situations. Especially so here, in a university classroom setting.
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 Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/8/2010 Posts: 23,388 Neurons: 94,875
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Also, the others are for when you have done a favour for someone and they thank you, and you minimise the extend trouble they have caused you.
eg Michael expends time and effort carrying a load of books and equipment for the lecturer. L > Thankyou M > You're welcome / no worries / no problem / happy to help
Just answering a question is not an onerous action done by the student for the benefit of the lecturer - the question is asked by the lecturer as part of his teaching of the student.
I personally don't like 'don't mention it' as it seems dismissive of the gratitude you have been shown. You should accept that graciously. I know it is commonly used, but I don't use it myself.
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 Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/8/2010 Posts: 23,388 Neurons: 94,875
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Ata - can you tell me why 'lütfen' is so often translated in otherwise reasonable subtitles as 'you're welcome' when it is a plea, or a simple polite 'please'? I have never heard it said as a response to a thankyou. It has always be a 'please!'
I know in some languages the same word does both, eg in German Bitte (please) Danke (thankyou) Bitte (acknowedging thanks)
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Rank: Newbie
Joined: 11/16/2020 Posts: 26 Neurons: 245
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Speaking as a former uni lecturer, almost any response that causes the student to look up from his or her smartphone will be taken positively! Even a grunt. A nod and a smile are usually well received.
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 Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 10/25/2018 Posts: 1,821 Neurons: 8,268 Location: İstoç, Istanbul, Turkey
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thar wrote:Ata - can you tell me why 'lütfen' is so often translated in otherwise reasonable subtitles as 'you're welcome' when it is a plea, or a simple polite 'please'? I have never heard it said as a response to a thankyou. It has always be a 'please!'
I know in some languages the same word does both, eg in German Bitte (please) Danke (thankyou) Bitte (acknowedging thanks)
I don't why, but no Turkish translator would make such a mistake. 'lütfen' means just 'please' and nothing else. It's a very common word in all Turkish dialects and other languages such as Persian (Lutfan) with exactly the same meaning. 'lütf' means favor, and the suffix 'en/an' means 'based on'. For "you're welcome" the most frequently used term is "rica ederim".
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 Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 7/8/2010 Posts: 23,388 Neurons: 94,875
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thanks.
How odd. Maybe they are translating through German, or Russian (?), but it is very odd. Please is one of the simplest ideas, and a word even a low-level learner of English would know, let alone someone doing subtitles. But at least that has cleared up the fact, if not solved the mystery!
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Rank: Advanced Member
Joined: 6/14/2009 Posts: 18,343 Neurons: 59,641 Location: Brighton, England, United Kingdom
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Thatenglishbloke - same here. When I saw those "You're welcome" responses I actually giggled. I can't recall any student - ever - saying "You're welcome"! You're right: a grunt, an undefinable vibration of the vocal chords...and besides they'd be half-way out of the room already!
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