The author gives a number of instances of expressions that sound odd or unpleasant.
According to the author in South India some restaurant are famous for the testy fare they offer. Naturally they have big rush and it is a problem for the management. In one such restaurant he saw a board, “Don’t sit for a long time.” This expression sounds odd or unpleasant. This can be rewritten in a polite form as “Please make room for waiting customers” or “Kindly make room for waiting friends”.
Secondly there are number of notices, instructions and orders, like “No Parking”, “No Smoking”, “No Admission”, “Visitors, cars are not Allowed”. These sound rather rough. They are unpleasant. They can be rewritten in polite manner like “No Parking Please” or Thank you for Not Parking”, Thank you for not Smoking”, “Stop and Proceed” can be rewritten as “Please Stop and Proceed.”
Thirdly people on their phone ask ‘who’s this? This sound odd or unpleasant. This can be asked in a polite form as “May I know who is calling please?”
Fourthly in some restaurants, the waiters usually come and stand near you. They simply Say “Yes Sir” This sounds odd or unpleasant instead of saying so, they may say in a polite way as “May I know Sir, what order can you place please?” Thus the instances of the expressions given by the author can be rewritten in polite manner.
