“you'll be well looked after there”

S

I got an offer from a uni from the UK, and I am almost determined to accept the offer although I still have two more alternatives. I emailed my supervisor during my MA study to let her know my intention. She is an experienced lecturer who definitely knows a lot about the universities in the UK.

And here is an excerpt from her reply:

Congratulations on the PhD place at XXX - a great university, you'll be well looked after there. It's good that you have supervision on the area you are so interested in. You're not too far from XXX so perhaps you'll pop over for a visit some time! In fact you could come and talk to our MAs about moving from Masters to PhD, reasons for doing it, finding an area of interest, the whole process of applying etc!

What I am worried about is the sentence "you'll be well looked after there". Does it imply anything or should be understood literally? I know she LOVES to use euphemism in her speech. As I am a non-native speaker of English, I am not very sure about how I can interpret this sentence and would like to seek your advice.

Thank you very much in advance.

T

Quote From samcassel:
I got an offer from a uni from the UK, and I am almost determined to accept the offer although I still have two more alternatives. I emailed my supervisor during my MA study to let her know my intention. She is an experienced lecturer who definitely knows a lot about the universities in the UK.

And here is an excerpt from her reply:

Congratulations on the PhD place at XXX - a great university, you'll be well looked after there. It's good that you have supervision on the area you are so interested in. You're not too far from XXX so perhaps you'll pop over for a visit some time! In fact you could come and talk to our MAs about moving from Masters to PhD, reasons for doing it, finding an area of interest, the whole process of applying etc!

What I am worried about is the sentence "you'll be well looked after there". Does it imply anything or should be understood literally? I know she LOVES to use euphemism in her speech. As I am a non-native speaker of English, I am not very sure about how I can interpret this sentence and would like to seek your advice.

Thank you very much in advance.


Why does that phrase worry you?

L

Native Brit here. No, you have no reason to worry - she's just saying the department should be friendly and supportive. Perhaps she knows people who study or work there. Either way, it's an innocuous phrase with no deeper meaning. So enjoy your place - and congratulations!

T

Absolutely agree with laebae! But I can also understand your concern as a non native speaker. Seriously - it means nothing at worst and what laebae says at best! Congratulations and all the best in your PhD journey :-) Great that you'll be maintaining links with your former university as well.

T

Ps. Loving all things to do with language and pragmatics, I have to add...

if it was used in another context... for example, say you had just received a sentence and were going to a notorious prison in South America, and someone said that...

... then it could have very different connotations (e.g., you might expect to experience some violence and be lucky to come out alive)!

Hope that helps : )

T

Quote From profkmorrell:
It is a shame that you are doubtful of such praise and encouragement, it might be worth thinking about why you doubt this because you are going to get far more ambiguous signals than this in academia. You're clearly very talented. If I may make a suggestion - please don't take this the wrong way it's meant to be helpful - it may help you to read up on Impostor Syndrome. Don't let this get in your way... congratulations again!!!


Wow, you inferred a lot! I thought it was more a case of the person being a non-native speaker of English and just needing to double check the meaning of that phrase in that context! :-)

S

Many thanks to you all, Tudor_Queen, laebae and profkmorrell.
I think I am just getting all too nervous maybe because I have lived the recent year in my own country (China) where I sometimes have to read between lines or else I will find myself in trouble. I got a bit of reverse cultural shock on that when I came back from the UK to China. And now seems it's time to adjust myself to the UK style once again.

C

Quote From samcassel:
Many thanks to you all, Tudor_Queen, laebae and profkmorrell.
I think I am just getting all too nervous maybe because I have lived the recent year in my own country (China) where I sometimes have to read between lines or else I will find myself in trouble. I got a bit of reverse cultural shock on that when I came back from the UK to China. And now seems it's time to adjust myself to the UK style once again.


Now it becomes a little clearer, especially if the OP is female...'looked after' when translated into Chinese (zhào gù 照顧) can have certain sexual connotations. Being 'looked after', either voluntarily or being coerced, can mean being in a relationships with someone in a position of authority for possible academic/financial/career advantages in return for sexual favours. If it's voluntary, it is a form of corruption and an abuse of power. If it is coerced, it becomes sexual harassment/rape.

I can see why the OP had concerns with the wordings.

T

Quote From samcassel:
Many thanks to you all, Tudor_Queen, laebae and profkmorrell.
I think I am just getting all too nervous maybe because I have lived the recent year in my own country (China) where I sometimes have to read between lines or else I will find myself in trouble. I got a bit of reverse cultural shock on that when I came back from the UK to China. And now seems it's time to adjust myself to the UK style once again.


This makes sense! I met some Chinese and Korean students this Summer, and they said that one thing that they have had to adapt to in the UK/US is that we are more direct - less reading between the lines. It was funny as I said I probably wouldn't do well in China - I take people very literally and never think about more subtle meanings till weeks later (and usually when I realise through something that happened afterwards!)

Cultural differences are so interesting : -)

C

Quote From Tudor_Queen:
Quote From samcassel:
Many thanks to you all, Tudor_Queen, laebae and profkmorrell.
I think I am just getting all too nervous maybe because I have lived the recent year in my own country (China) where I sometimes have to read between lines or else I will find myself in trouble. I got a bit of reverse cultural shock on that when I came back from the UK to China. And now seems it's time to adjust myself to the UK style once again.


This makes sense! I met some Chinese and Korean students this Summer, and they said that one thing that they have had to adapt to in the UK/US is that we are more direct - less reading between the lines. It was funny as I said I probably wouldn't do well in China - I take people very literally and never think about more subtle meanings till weeks later (and usually when I realise through something that happened afterwards!)

Cultural differences are so interesting : -)


First time that I've seen UK academics described as 'direct'. Whenever I hear my argument being described as 'interesting' or 'good, but...', I immediately think of a total rewrite....

T

More direct that China apparently! But, mind you , there are individual differences within cultures too (my supervisors would never say good unless they meant it - thank goodness). And I'm speaking comparatively. We aren't direct at all compared to Germany for instance! Interesting discussion!

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