‘English, doc’ doctor speaking English told

A doctor who was clearly speaking English was left baffled by a command to speak ‘English, doc.’

“It was terribly peculiar,” said Stewart James, a professor in complicated theory at Oxford university.

“This tough yet handsome man arrived with an attractive lady who didn’t say very much. He seemed really rather harassed. He asked me to explain something to him that seemed to have a bearing on some adventures that the pair had been having.”

Happy to help, Professor James began explaining to the strange pair, but shortly after beginning, he was interrupted with a barked ‘English, doc’ from the man.

“I stopped, because it seemed such a strange thing to say,” said the Professor.

“I’d been clearly speaking English. To be honest, other than a little conversational French that I’ve picked up from holidays, I don’t really speak any language other than English. I was certainly using English at that moment. Of course, I was, anyone would do in such a situation. If you’re trying to explain something to someone else, you’d use a common language. These two spoke English, I’m English, so I spoke to them in English.”

Professor James briefly paused in his explanation.

“I wasn’t really sure how to respond. So, I stopped for a second, smiled politely, and continued with what I’d been saying, still speaking English. They listened, seemed satisfied and then went on their way.”

It was suggested by a colleague that perhaps the instruction to speak English was really a request to simplify the explanation using a layman’s terminology.

“Well, that seems unlikely. If you wanted a simplified, layman’s explanation then you’d say ‘can I have a simplified, layman’s explanation, please’ and not just bark ‘English, doc.’

“Most strange.”