DeadVim

I mentioned this to a guy I worked with and said in the UK it was generally meant with an agressive intent ... here, as others have said, it's just punctuation ...

Hutch

I've been giving this a bit of thought and my view is that when someone says, "awwww look .... " what they're actually saying is "consider this". Try it yourself the next time some politician's being interviewing on the 7pm project - switch "awwww look" for "consider this" and you'll find the two are interchangeable.

77hil

I agree.

In the UK "Look" is generally used as in a "Look, Stupid" sort of conext. I don't get the impression that it has the same aggressive intent when used here but it does take some getting used to. Having said that, after only being here 6 months I've already found that I've started to preface sentences with "Look" myself.

Vash the Stampede

Well said.

Most people (including myself) use it as verbal shorthand for "my point is..."

fish.01

IMO, I think it is used most often by people when they are about to disagree with whatever they believe is implied by the question just asked of them (eg a trap question from a journalist).

Its purpose is to imply the questioner went too far with their unspoken or spoken inference. That's why politicians use it so often....it also gives them time to think.

It ranges from a slightly defensive/aggressive construct to outright aggression.


Slightly defensive/aggressive:

Q. Do you think intelligent design should be taught in science classes...

(hmmm...he thinks I'm a religious nutter and wants to trap me into admitting it)

A. Look, I think there is room....


Or the more expanded case which uses "to be fair" to explicitly show that they are about to balance the questioners inference:

Q. Do you think intelligent design should be taught in science classes...

A. Look, to be fair, I think there is room....


To the outright aggressive:

Q. Do you think religion is all a load of bollocks

(what!!!...he knows I'm a religious nutter and just outright insulted me)

A. Look, it you don't shut it I'm going to....


People sometimes also use it when they don't understand things and feel they should (defensive) or people don't want to divulge what they know (evasive):


Defensive:

Q. Whadaya reckon bout this new carbon tax.

(what's this wanker on about...)

A. Um yeah look, I don't really give a shit mate...


Evasive:

Q. How do think we should approach this.

(yeah right...thinks I will admit what I know)

A. Look, I don't really want to get into the....


Again it is indicating a dislike of the question.

itxrd

Better than teenagers always saying

'and it was like'
'and then he was like'
'and then i was like'

like like schmike

Bermudashorts

Yes we noticed that "look" was used a lot, I particularly remember it in my interview and was momentarily alarmed. Other expressions I have noticed at work is they talk about being "across" something, they "nut" things out and they also "socialise" when they mean discuss.

Evelin

you are so right and everytime I listen to it on TV I get mad at them.

fish.01

That last one has me confused...example?

fish.01

how inflexible of you I won't use it myself

mpgrewal

This is my observation of overused words by Aussies as compared to other English speaking nations
1. Bloody
2. Apparently
3. Dodgy
4. Sh*t
5. Too Easy
6. Cheers
....many more..

fish.01

How could you leave out my favourite....Bugger...


I prefer to think other countries under use them

Bermudashorts

Oh they say "socialise" all the time at my place. For example, if I have prepared an analysis, written a paper, put together a project plan or something like that, then it needs to be "socialised"; i.e. it needs to be distributed or discussed with interested parties.

Vash the Stampede

That's a new one. Never heard the word "socialise" used this way before.

rozellem

I find it funny how Aussies would say " I went to visit mum over the weekend", they dont say MY mum, just mum, as if we are sisters and it is my mother too!?