LL-L 'Idiomatica' 2006.12.02 (01) [E]

[Sandy Fleming]

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> From: R. F. Hahn [sassisch at yahoo.com]
> Subject: Idiomatica
> 
> Lowlanders,
> 
> Even in my own lifetime so far I seem to have witnessed the decline of the
> English phrase "How do you do?" (mostly used during introductions, rarely as a
> real greeting).
> 
> Can anyone shed more light onto this?
> 
> It would also be interesting what sorts of equivalent phrases are used in other
> Lowlands varieties, including non-standard English ones.

I think that in the UK at least, "How do you do(?)" has become rather
too formal as a greeting, and has completely lost its force as a
question.

In England and Wales it seems to me that the most common greeting is now
"How are you?" especially between people who have met before. If they're
only just being introduced they might say, "Pleased to meet you" or just
"Hello" or even just give a nod of the head.

"How are you?" is always a question, and you're expected to give an
appropriate answer, eg, "I'm OK" or "Oh, don't ask". Then you might
pause and ask back at them, "How are you?"

The equivalent phrase in Scots is now popularly "How's it gaun?" ("How's
it going?" or "Ay, how's it gaun?" ("Ay" is "yes" but in this and some
other contexts it's a greeting). In Scottish culture the answer is
typically formulated to avoid jinxing the situation through praise or
overconfidence or "speaking too soon", so might be, "Ay, I'm no bad" or
"No ower bad," or even less committal with "Aweel ye ken" ("Oh well, you
know"), and then you might ask "How's yersel?" or "How's it gaun
yersel?".

I'm geylies, I'm brawlies,
    I'm no vera weel.
Thank ye for spierin,
    How's yersel?

Sandy Fleming
http://scotstext.org/

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