Can I help who's next?

nekocat

先輩

3 Apr 2007

265

11

• 23 Aug 2007

• #1

In what part of English speaking world can you hear "Can I help who's next?" in, for example, fast food shops?☝

 

nice gaijin

Resident Realist

Moderator

Donor

Twenty-year veteran

8 Aug 2005

7,316

3,727

• 23 Aug 2007

• #2

It's like conbini keigo; not really grammatically correct but not necessarily polite. It can be heard almost anywhere that has a line waiting to be helped.

 

Elizabeth

先輩

22 Apr 2003

9,839

135

• 23 Aug 2007

• #3

"Can I help who's next?" is actually somewhat rare. It's more likely to be truncated to "NEXT!" or "Who's NEXT?!"

 

Last edited: 23 Aug 2007

pugtm

Jewish Samurai

21 Apr 2007

567

13

• 23 Aug 2007

• #4

the proper way of saying it would be "can i help whoever is next" your way sounds not only incorrect but also abrupt and rude.

 

Kinsao

Horizon Rider

8 May 2005

8,515

143

• 23 Aug 2007

• #5

I'd see that as two separate sentences that just got run together as the person serving is really busy and trying to get through things fast like a production line. The general impression being:
"Can I help?" [standard 'meaningless' greeting to the customer but rattled off because it is allegedly 'polite'] + "Who's next?" [who is next in line?]

That is how I would interpret it, rather as "Can I help [the person] who's next?"

 

nice gaijin

Resident Realist

Moderator

Donor

Twenty-year veteran

8 Aug 2005

7,316

3,727

• 24 Aug 2007

• #6

pugtm said:

the proper way of saying it would be "can i help whoever is next" your way sounds not only incorrect but also abrupt and rude.

Click to expand...

This is a great example of how people are comfortable ignoring proper grammar. Your example is no more correct and no more polite than nekocat's, though I'm sure people still use it thinking just that.

 

nekocat

先輩

3 Apr 2007

265

11

• 24 Aug 2007

• Thread starter
• #7

Thanks for your help, everyone! Enjoy the rest of summer!