Say what?

BY GINA DAUGHERTY | CIN

When you first moved here and someone asked "please?" you knew what they meant -- excuse me or pardon. You knew because of the context. But you thought, "How odd... I wonder why they say 'please.' "

The English word "please" is a direct translation of the German word "bitte," says Don Heinrich Tolzmann, director of German American Studies at the University of Cincinnati.

"It is used instead of 'excuse me?' 'what?' or 'huh?' " says Tolzmann. "It's a translation of a German formal mode of etiquette. It expresses politeness, which I think Cincinnatians are known for in public discourse."

People outside of Cincinnati and people coming in might not understand, but it makes perfect sense given Cincinnatians' German heritage, he says.

Saying 'please' speaks to the bigger German influence on Cincinnati -- how Cincinnatians look at the world, how they speak, and how they eat and drink.

"Our strong beer tradition, brats, goetta and the bakeries," are all a part of it, says Tolzmann. "And doesn't saying 'please' sound nicer and more polite than saying 'what?' or 'huh?' Why would you want to be excused? If you didn't hear something, you should be embarrassed you didn't hear it."