Asking vs. Requesting

In the mission, in the Central Pacific, there were two words for asking: either one (I shall call it) asked, or one requested. In answer to an ask, one could repond with yes or no. In answer to a request, it was one's sacred duty to say yes. My parents, at first, didn't understand the distinction. Now there is a very similar thing in Africa. One's neighbour (for example) is seen as asking. Pastors are seen as requesting. It is one's sacred duty to say yes. I didn't understand this at first. I would say to the congregation, for example, "We need, on average, R20 from each member each week," or, "We need someone to help us twice a month in the creche." For someone of European stock, it is an ask. For an African, it is a request. The only answer is yes. OBSERVATION: This is not universally true, but it is often true. It may sometimes have unfortunate consequences.