Good day instead of hello?

nessie · Mon Jun 16, 2008 8:40 am *Good day instead of hello?*

Well, if "good day" is not used instead of "hello", could it be used as "good bye"? I mean "good bye" in normal meaning, not in the case Amy mentioned (like "Bye, good day!/ good day to you!"

Many thanks
Nessie

Molly

Jamie (K) · Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:29 pm *Good day instead of hello?*

Haihao · Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:46 pm *Good day instead of hello?*

Jamie (K) · Mon Jun 16, 2008 12:51 pm *Good day instead of hello?*

Molly · Mon Jun 16, 2008 15:33 pm *Good day instead of hello?*

And, in the 21st century, in places that are not Britain and the USA, as Mr P has shown.

Jamie (K) · Mon Jun 16, 2008 15:36 pm *Good day instead of hello?*

Was Sherlock Holmes depicted as Indian or Nigerian?

Molly · Mon Jun 16, 2008 15:54 pm *Good day instead of hello?*

Jamie (K) · Mon Jun 16, 2008 16:06 pm *Good day instead of hello?*

Molly · Mon Jun 16, 2008 16:40 pm *Good day instead of hello?*

Barb_D · Mon Jun 16, 2008 17:55 pm *Good day instead of hello?*

Nessie, I can speak only from the modern, US perspective. "Have a nice day" or "Have a good day" are perfectly friendly ways to end a conversation. As I spoke to my husband on the way to work today, I said, "Okay, hon, have a good day - talk to you later."

If I heard someone say "Good day!" at the end of a conversation, having read what I've read in novels and such, it would seem a curt dismissal, as though they were saying "I'm through with you now - get out!"

If someone came up to me and greeted me with "Good day!" it would sound old fashioned, but hardly objectionable.

Jamie (K) · Mon Jun 16, 2008 18:08 pm *Good day instead of hello?*

MrPedantic · Mon Jun 16, 2008 23:29 pm *Good day instead of hello?*

After looking at a few more sites, my impression is that "Good day!" as a greeting indicates "politeness", in Nigerian (and possibly other kinds of African) English.

MrP

Molly · Mon Jun 16, 2008 23:38 pm *Good day instead of hello?*

Ralf · Tue Jun 17, 2008 0:33 am *Good day instead of hello?*

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