How does one correctly reply to the greeting/question 'How are you?'? I've noticed that of late alot of impressionable youngsters quip, "I'm good" or simply, "good". Not very sure but this is not correct is it? Would 'very well, thanks' or 'not too bad' be the appropriate way to reply, from both a linguistic angle as well as a societal one?
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A Matter of English
- Thread starter yansen84
- Start date
Don't worry about grammar as this seems to be situational and common usage. Depends on who you are replying to?
Safe ones - I am well. Very well. I am good. Very well Thank you. I am fine. I am fine and you.
Australians tend to reply as - Good Thanks(with no pause and rather abrupt). Not too bad. plus as above
Good day,
Phatic communion 'questions' like 'how are you?', 'have you eaten?' or 'where are you going to (pergi mana)?' serve to establish some kind of social link between people. The 'correct' answer then is one which is acceptable (either grammatically or substantively) to both sides.
All 'correct' answers then are the the result of being 'impressionable', i.e. being in sync with the social context in which they are made. 'I'm good' is more in sync with the English more commonly used today while 'very well, thanks' with the time I was taught to respond to such questions.
Substantively inappropriate responses are far more interesting. I once heard in response to 'how are you?', details of someone's home and work life, and a suggestion at the end that I was a busybody.
Cheers.
Phatic communion 'questions' like 'how are you?', 'have you eaten?' or 'where are you going to (pergi mana)?' serve to establish some kind of social link between people. The 'correct' answer then is one which is acceptable (either grammatically or substantively) to both sides.
All 'correct' answers then are the the result of being 'impressionable', i.e. being in sync with the social context in which they are made. 'I'm good' is more in sync with the English more commonly used today while 'very well, thanks' with the time I was taught to respond to such questions.
Substantively inappropriate responses are far more interesting. I once heard in response to 'how are you?', details of someone's home and work life, and a suggestion at the end that I was a busybody.
Cheers.
Huh?
It all depends on the social sub-group culture. Thus whether it is appropriate or not is all subjective (unless it is grammar related). End of the day depends on the person. Plus there are always those jokers who like to stand out and will always give an interesting answer.
I think saying "I'm good" is ok.
What I can't understand is when people say "My bad", when they should be saying "It's my fault".
Think we shd view this in a social context.. culturally too.
Like asian (in these parts) greeting on "have you eaten", nobody's keen on your gastronomic delights or whinging on lousy, farty lunch. :p
And the angmohs (especially americans) ask "how are you" even to strangers, without sincerity or not even expecting your response.
Like asian (in these parts) greeting on "have you eaten", nobody's keen on your gastronomic delights or whinging on lousy, farty lunch. :p
And the angmohs (especially americans) ask "how are you" even to strangers, without sincerity or not even expecting your response.
yansen84 said:
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Zombie
Guest
No standard reply.
Ah Long: "How are you?"
PRC mm: "How are you?"
Pastor: "How are you?"
Divorced wife who took all your money: "How are you?"
PAP: "How are you?"
Your great-grandfather (long-deceased): "How are you?"
Unknown with a 10-inch knife and grinning: "How are you?"
Unknown with a 10-inch dick and grinning: "How are you?"
So, how are you to get the correct reply?
I think saying "I'm good" is ok.
What I can't understand is when people say "My bad", when they should be saying "It's my fault".
hah yeah that was what I was trying to hit at. If you say 'my bad' is wrong, then I think 'I'm good' is no better either? cos when someone asks 'how are you?', it's more like relating to your state of health or wellbeing. Whereas if you reply 'I'm good', it alludes more to your behaviour (well-behaved) or your ability (see beh zai).
as someone said, the butchering of the english language!!
good answer. though I appreciate that we gotta do as society does, I can't help but feel 'I'm good' is inherently wrong in this context. I wouldn't say I hark back to the days where they taught you to reply 'very well, thanks', but I attribute this to the pervasiveness of american culture nowadays which has screwed up the english of many of our youngsters here. another example is the misspelling of words like 'harbour', 'labour' etc.
"great! i just got laid!"
"not good. i'm constipating." :(
"eat shit and die!"
"not good. i'm constipating." :(
"eat shit and die!"
I learnt this when I'm in sec school...
Q: How are you?
A: I am fine/not well/feeling great (all acceptable answers)
Q: How to you do?
A: I am doing fine/well/great/etc
"Good" in this 2 instances doesn't really translate to anything meaningful. My English teacher told the class that we should as far as possible not to describe anything as good or nice because it sounds vague.
Q: How are you?
A: I am fine/not well/feeling great (all acceptable answers)
Q: How to you do?
A: I am doing fine/well/great/etc
"Good" in this 2 instances doesn't really translate to anything meaningful. My English teacher told the class that we should as far as possible not to describe anything as good or nice because it sounds vague.
u never ask lesser mortals tis question ...
if lesser mortals ask u ... look away, pretend never hear ...
if u tink dat person who ask u is n equal immortal, den say ... oh! gr8! me juz flung 46k on a useless french cooking cos ...
And you are very free to go through it,
also, i see you everywhere,
don't tell me you see me everywhere
you know my 'home ground".
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