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I'd be quite grateful if nobody could interrupt me right now, I'm pondering whether using 'could' rather than 'would' implicitly denies the other party any agency. I see a lot of coulds where I would choose would.
1 year ago
@kevinsan Ah, I see. This makes sense to me. Now I'm imagining replying to such a statement with "I dunno, *could* I?" In the vein of that classic smart-ass reply to "may I" questions phrased as "can I...?" · 1 year ago
@lykso and all, thanks. Yes, it just occurred to me that I see 'could' more often now, often implying a rhetorical question like "could you not do that", obviously I could, whereas "would you mind not doing that" is similarly rhetorical, but at least gives the person being asked agency in making the choice. It's almost like 'could' comes from a viewpoint of entitlement, whereas 'would' is one of compromise or negotiation.
A random thought really. · 1 year ago
Though now my brain is offering up all sorts of examples that don't quite fit that simple model, so... 😛 · 1 year ago
My understanding of English may not be right here, but I've always seen "could/would" as something akin to "can/will." I.e., could makes me think "ability to" while "would" makes me think "desire to." Is this at all close to your line of thinking? · 1 year ago
How could speech alone deny another party agency? · 1 year ago
🤯 · 1 year ago