Asking for a window seat

Question

At an airport ticket counter: 1) "Could I have a window seat?" 2) "Could you get me a window seat?"

I understand that 1) is seeking permission and 2) making a request, but both mean more or less the same thing. My question is, is there any difference in formality/familiarity between the two? Which is more idiomatic?

eamer

Usenet · Accepted Answer

[nq:1]At an airport ticket counter: 1) "Could I have a window seat?" 2) "Could you get me a window seat?" ... less the same thing. My question is, is there any difference in formality/familiarity between the two? Which is more idiomatic?[/nq]
"Could you get me a window seat" is unlikely to be used outside the US (and perhaps not even there, by most people). Try "can/may I have a window seat". It sounds less like begging than the 'could' option (which isn't past tense, Robbie, in case you're getting confused).

-- Mark Wallace -- For the intelligent approach to nasty humour, visit: The Anglo-American Humour (humor) Site http://earth.prohosting.com/mwal/ --

-- Mark Wallace -- For the intelligent approach to nasty humour, visit: The Anglo-American Humour (humor) Site http://earth.prohosting.com/mwal/ --

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]At an airport ticket counter: 1) "Could I have a window seat?" 2) "Could you get me a window seat?" ... less the same thing. My question is, is there any difference in formality/familiarity between the two? Which is more idiomatic?[/nq]
I don't know that there are any hard and fast answers. Though #2 is clearly the more formal of the two, I suspect that the actual difference in formality levels is fairly small.

This is just the general question of how one asks for anything:

Might I please have a window seat if one is available?

Gimme a window seat.

And the whole spectrum between.

-- Cordially, Eric Walker My opinions on English are available at http://owlcroft.com/english/

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]At an airport ticket counter: 1) "Could I have a window seat?" 2) "Could you get me a window seat?" ... the same thing. My question is, is there any difference in formality/familiarity between the two? Which is more idiomatic? eamer[/nq]
At the very least I'd include "please" in either request, followed by some inane small talk about how wonderful the ticket agent is handling the crowds, etc. I've been dong that for years and have actually gotten a couple of on-the-spot no-questions-asked upgraded to Bus Class.

-YJ

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]At an airport ticket counter: 1) "Could I have a ... difference in formality/familiarity between the two? Which is more idiomatic?[/nq]
[nq:1]I don't know that there are any hard and fast answers. Though #2 is clearly the more formal of the two,[/nq]
Formal! Are you ****** joking!

To anyone from a civilised neck of the woods, "Could you get me a window seat?" would only be said to someone who's wearing a tool-belt!

Welcome to "The World of English According to Eric".

-- Mark Wallace -- For the intelligent approach to nasty humour, visit: The Anglo-American Humour (humor) Site http://earth.prohosting.com/mwal/ --

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]At an airport ticket counter: 1) "Could I have a ... difference in formality/familiarity between the two? Which is more idiomatic?[/nq]
[nq:1]"Could you get me a window seat" is unlikely to be used outside the US(and perhaps not even there, by most people).[/nq]
Thanks! I'm probably missing something. Does this mean 2) sounds disrespectful or something? Is it always more polite to say "Can I have ..." than "Can you get/bring me ..."? How about when you're asking a close friend a small favor? For instance, "Can you pass me the salt?" vs. "Can I have the salt?"
[nq:1]Try "can/may I have a window seat". It sounds less like begging than the 'could' option (which isn't past tense, Robbie, in case you're getting confused).[/nq]
I was under the impression that "may" sounds a little more condescending than "can" and "could", because "May I..." is traditionally the "proper" way to ask permission. So in order of politeness: can > could > may > might (the last one is often used sarcastically, I suppose). Am I mistaken?

Getting the nuance right can be really tough for a nonnative speaker.

eamer

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2]At an airport ticket counter: 1) "Could I have a ... in formality/familiarity between the two? Which is more idiomatic? eamer[/nq]
[nq:1]At the very least I'd include "please" in either request, followed by some inane small talk about how wonderful the ... you said, "May I have a window seat, please" followed by some complimentary chat, usually works wonders. Politeness costs nothing.[/nq]
--

wrmst rgrds Robin Bignall

Quiet part of Hertfordshire England

http://homepage.ntlworld.com/docrobin/homepage.htm

Usenet · Answer

[nq:1]At an airport ticket counter: 1) "Could I have a window seat?" 2) "Could you get me a window seat?" ... or less the same thing. My question is, is there any differencein formality/familiarity between the two? Which is more idiomatic?[/nq]
Both are okay, given that you substitute "give" for "get" in #2. Other possibilities include: "Window seat, please." "I'd like (a seat/to sit) by the window." "Can I sit by the window." "I want to sit by the window." "Are there any window seats?"

Clerks used to ask me which I wanted, window or aisle, but these days they don't seem to bother.

Adrian

Usenet · Answer

On 23 Oct 2003, Eamer posted thus:
[nq:1]At an airport ticket counter: 1) "Could I have a window seat?" 2) "Could you get me a window seat?" ... less the same thing. My question is, is there any difference in formality/familiarity between the two? Which is more idiomatic?[/nq]
The first, but I would have said, "I'd like a window seat, please."

-- Dena Jo

(Email: Replace TPUBGTH with denajo2)

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2] "Could you get me a window seat" is unlikely to be used outside the US (and perhaps not even there, by most people).[/nq]
[nq:1]Thanks! I'm probably missing something. Does this mean 2) sounds disrespectful or something? Is it always more polite to say "Can I have ..." than "Can you get/bring me ..."?[/nq]
It's not necessarily any more or less polite (with English, we don't really have any words that are formal; it's how you say them that counts); it's that "can you get me a window seat" is just a poor choice of words -- you don't want the person to physically go and bring you one.
[nq:1]How about when you're asking a close friend a small favor? For instance, "Can you pass me the salt?" vs. "Can I have the salt?"[/nq]
With a close friend, you can say just about anything ("Gi'us the salt, willya?" is perfectly good enough); it's not imposing your wishes on other people that counts, so you have to show politeness. Either of your two examples would be polite enough for strangers, but, as others have already said, adding 'please' would make them infinitely better.
[nq:2]Try "can/may I have a window seat". It sounds less ... (which isn't past tense, Robbie, in case you're getting confused).[/nq]
[nq:1]I was under the impression that "may" sounds a little more condescending than "can" and "could", because "May I..." is ... politeness: can > could > may > might (the last one is often used sarcastically, I suppose). Am I mistaken?[/nq]
Afraid so. It's just the way some people speak. Things like sarcasm and condescention are given by the way the words are said, not by the words themselves. If you sincerely ask "might I have a window seat, please?", no-one will feel offended; they'll just assume you've spent time in England.
[nq:1]Getting the nuance right can be really tough for a nonnative speaker.[/nq]
No argument there.

-- Mark Wallace -- For the intelligent approach to nasty humour, visit: The Anglo-American Humour (humor) Site http://earth.prohosting.com/mwal/ --

Usenet · Answer

[nq:2] "Could you get me a window seat" is unlikely to be used outside the US (and perhaps not even there, by most people).[/nq]
[nq:1]Thanks! I'm probably missing something. Does this mean 2) sounds disrespectful or something? Is it always more polite to say "Can I have ..." than "Can you get/bring me ..."?[/nq]
It's not necessarily any more or less polite (with English, we don't really have any words that are formal; it's how you say them that counts); it's that "can you get me a window seat" is just a poor choice of words -- you don't want the person to physically go and bring you one.
[nq:1]How about when you're asking a close friend a small favor? For instance, "Can you pass me the salt?" vs. "Can I have the salt?"[/nq]
With a close friend, you can say just about anything ("Gi'us the salt, willya?" is perfectly good enough); it's not imposing your wishes on other people that counts, so you have to show politeness. Either of your two examples would be polite enough for strangers, but, as others have already said, adding 'please' would make them infinitely better.
[nq:2]Try "can/may I have a window seat". It sounds less ... (which isn't past tense, Robbie, in case you're getting confused).[/nq]
[nq:1]I was under the impression that "may" sounds a little more condescending than "can" and "could", because "May I..." is ... politeness: can > could > may > might (the last one is often used sarcastically, I suppose). Am I mistaken?[/nq]
Afraid so. It's just the way some people speak. Things like sarcasm and condescention are given by the way the words are said, not by the words themselves. If you sincerely ask "might I have a window seat, please?", no-one will feel offended; they'll just assume you've spent time in England.
[nq:1]Getting the nuance right can be really tough for a nonnative speaker.[/nq]
No argument there.

-- Mark Wallace -- For the intelligent approach to nasty humour, visit: The Anglo-American Humour (humor) Site http://earth.prohosting.com/mwal/ --

Asking for a window seat

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