My favorite weekly news magazine has a regular segment on linguistics, in which I read a discussion about “cultural pragmatics”. In Iceland, some of our favorite polite phrases are thought of as just the opposite. Please, thank you, you’re welcome: these are all thought of demeaning in various ways. For instance, if you say, Could I please borrow your car? This question, with the inclusion of “please”, implies that this is a big favor that not everyone would agree to; secondly, it is thought of as humbling yourself before a person who has the power to grant your request or not. And so Scandinavian countries have come up with the word “tack”, which reflects their ideals of equality, self-sufficiency, consensus seeking, and conflict avoidance — along with a desire to not be indebted to other people. So, in essence, requests are made with the expectation that they will be done, not that you’re asking a favor, hence no need for thanks when it is granted! I love seeing the interpretations and different ways of perceiving words and actions!
“Gratitude is a lesson hard to learn for those who look upon the world amiss. The most that they can do is see themselves as better off than others. And they try to be content because another seems to suffer more than they. How pitiful and deprecating are such thoughts!” A Course in Miracles W-195.1:1-4
“If we are ungrateful for Life, Truth, and Love, and yet return thanks to God for all blessings, we are in sincere and incur the sharp censure our Master pronounces on hypocrites. In such a case, the only acceptable prayer is to put the finger on the lips and remember our blessings. While the heart is far from divine Truth and Love, we cannot conceal the ingratitude of barren lives.”
Mary Baker Eddy - Science & Health Page 3:27-2
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