»
Main Forums
»
English Workshop
»
To Waiters and Waitresses
| English Workshop |
|
To Waiters and Waitresses |
|
|
Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
"How is your guys's meal?" Terrible, terrible grammar. Avoid it at all times! |
||
| © Copyright 2006 Essorant - All Rights Reserved | |||
Marge Tindal 
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
It is an awful abuse of grammar usage~ Also, it is my opinion that referring to those of us who happen to be ladies as "you guys" is also poor service industry training and manners~ This has always just been one of those little pet-peeves that rubs me the wrong way~ |
||
|
Grinch Member Elite
since 2005-12-31
Posts 2929Whoville |
Sounds like a pretty acceptable use of language to me however grammatically incorrect, after all it fulfils the main requirement of language in that it communicates something I can understand. If this was written on the bottom of a menu or notice board I could understand the fuss but language is a flexible thing especially when spoken, if it wasn't the waiter would be saying "doth the meal please thee sire". If a waiter or waitress asked me the question I would be more likely to thank them for asking and give them an honest reply rather than pointing out their grammatical error. Just my opinion  |
||
Ringo
since 2003-02-20
Posts 3684Saluting with misty eyes |
Actually, having spent much of my youth in the South, I usually used the phrase "How's y'all's order?" Later, when I graduated out of the lesser restaurants and diners, "I changed it to, "Is everything alrgiht?". The right way (as opposed to "proper") depends on where you are working at the time. You may burn my flag... only after you wrap yourself in it first. |
||
|
ChristianSpeaks Member
since 2006-05-18
Posts 396Iowa, USA |
I too grew up in the "How's ya'll's food?" part of the world. To me I think that it's some what endearing. My question would be, did the question take anything away from your dining experience? If it didn't - who cares. We choose to use the grammar we are most comfortable with. Others are not required to do so. However, I can recall myself saying, "Is that all ya'll want?" to a customer. So my opinion may not mean much. CS |
||
|
Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
People can fuss about intricate little things about makeup and good looks, money, cars, computers, websites, and other physical and often superficial things, yet a little care-taking of the language-something that is used with almost everything we do-- is too much to ask for? Too much to call women ladies or at least women, instead of guys? And at a public service such as a restaurant, where one is serving people and trying to give a good impression? I think it is a great carelessness when waiters and waitresses at a restaurant go about with bad grammar and manners in a phrase and routine that they will be doing over and over again at almost every table they deal with. It shows carelessness on the part of the people running the restaurant that they don't teach their workers good courtesy and ettiquette. It is not much different from going from table to table with bad body odour. |
||
|
ChristianSpeaks Member
since 2006-05-18
Posts 396Iowa, USA |
Incorrect. I have worked in food service. There has nor will there be time or money for English lessons to those who work for less than minimum wage. If you are looking for not only fine food but fine gramatical structure you must pay more than 10 dollars for your steak. CS |
||
|
Ringo
since 2003-02-20
Posts 3684Saluting with misty eyes |
Actually, Essorant, I have worked as a waiter in fine dining and in diners, and almost everything in between. I went- as a matter of fact- from a semi-fine dining restaurant in Virginia to an IHOP in Sacramento, Ca, and the two waiting styles and speech patterns were necessarily different. When I first got to the IHOP, I was doing my normal waiting routines (the ones that I picked up from the first restaurant) and made almost nothing in tips. My manager told me to lighten up, and remember our clientele (especially on the over night shift). I dropped into "y'all" and "guys", and "hey", and cracking jokes, and totally improper body posture... and became one of the highest paid waiters there. People in diners and coffee shops and such do not expect, and do not like the proper grammer and speech patters required for a more formal establishment where you would take a prom date, or where you would propose to your girl. You may burn my flag... only after you wrap yourself in it first. |
||
|
Marge Tindal
since 1999-11-06
Posts 42384Florida's Foreverly Shores |
Ringo~ quote:While that might be your personal observations, my friend, that simply does not apply to everyone of us~ I frequent diners, coffee shops, fast food chains and fine dining establishments ... I would expect, and prefer, proper grammer at each of them~ ~*The sound of a kiss is not as strong as that of a cannon, but it's echo endures much longer*~ |
||
|
ChristianSpeaks Member
since 2006-05-18
Posts 396Iowa, USA |
The only thing that you can expect from people in the service industry is exactly that; service. For one to expect more than that is to expect something for which said individual is not getting paid. Good servers do add to your dining experiece, but for you to EXPECT proper language is boorish. If you want proper language take in a play, if you want a good steak go to Stella's; where the wait staff is rude and if you're not careful they'll pour a milkshake on your head. cs |
||
|
Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
I would rewrite your first sentence thus: The only thing that you can expect from people in the service industry is exactly that; good service, including good grammar. |
||
|
Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
I would agree with Ess - service isn't just the delivery of food. Granted, one expects more, the more they pay for their meal, but regardless of whether I'm in a 5-Star restaurant or Denny's, I expect the person to provide that service to the best of their abilities. As a rule, waiters and waitresses only receive a pittance for salary... in many cases less than minimum wage. Their true take home is dependent on the level of service they provide to their customers and their customers' appreciation shown in the monetary form of a tip. I can tell you that I, for one, am unlikely to tip more than a little (if at all) for poor or unprofessional service. Exceptional service, however, even in a cheap diner, is apt to be rewarded well. Grammar is part of that service - it's a professional attitude that should be seen as a necessary part of the job, rather than something one would do as "over and above." For the initial question, I would say the query SHOULD be, "How is your meal?" It is automatically implied, by nature of the expected service, that "your" includes all the patrons at that table. |
||
|
ChristianSpeaks Member
since 2006-05-18
Posts 396Iowa, USA |
Christopher- Here's my question: Would you tip more than a "little or none at all" for kind service? What if that kind service came with a few dropped r's or a "Ya'll" or two? Ess- It is nakedly obvious that you have never worked in the food service industry. I truly hope I never was your server in my past life. Thank God for a salary. CS |
||
|
Christopher
Moderator
Member Rara Avis
since 1999-08-02
Posts 8296Purgatorial Incarceration |
CS: I'll bend a little and say that, yes, kind service will ameliorate some of the grating a minor level of poor grammar has done. However, I must add, I don't think that's an excuse for poor grammar. If the grammar is exceedingly bad, kind service isn’t likely to make much of a difference. I appreciate that some people may have the best intentions in the world or be the kindest people, but I’m going to that restaurant for the service and believe that part of that service is a professional front. Part of professionalism is a relatively educated manner of speech. Just my opinion. I have known many in the food service business (met a grand total of 3 ex’s in their course of duty as waitresses). I both understand and sympathize with what they go through. I know the first time a customer got smart with me, I’d get right smart back. It takes a unique personality and an incredibly large amount of patience and diligence. If those traits are there, why then would it be so terribly much to ask that their speech be correct as well? Again, just my opinion. On the flip side, the examples you've given can be owed more to location and accent rather than poor grammar. A waitress with a cute southern accent already had her tip increased 5% just by opening her mouth. If she's really cute...  |
||
|
ChristianSpeaks Member
since 2006-05-18
Posts 396Iowa, USA |
Amen to the cute southern accent!! |
||
|
ChristianSpeaks Member
since 2006-05-18
Posts 396Iowa, USA |
Amen to the cute southern accent!! (and the congregation says "amen") |
||
|
Essorant Member Elite
since 2002-08-10
Posts 4769Regina, Saskatchewan; Canada |
Amen and women. Be politically correct! |
||
|
ChristianSpeaks Member
since 2006-05-18
Posts 396Iowa, USA |
Point Taken. Will the court reporter please correct the statement to read " Amen and A women," |
||
|
|
⇧ top of page ⇧ |
|
| All times are ET (US). All dates are in Year-Month-Day format. | ||
