to think that normal people do not answer 'how are you?' with 'yes'.

[AtYourCervix]

watch eastenders and jot down how many times beople answer

Ar are ya? with yeah......

or worse

wotcher doin? yeah.......

it is not a normal pattern of speech is it?

Yes.

how are you geraldine?

Mmm. But when I ask most people how they or their DCs are I don't really mean it Likewise when they ask me....

I just want a 'yeah great thanks'. Not how amazingly little johnny is doing at the violin or how bad your DH's corns are

but why would you answer yes to a 'how are you? question?

how are you?

yes.

it makes no sense at all.

whereas

how are you?

good thanks.

makes sense.

What about "yarite?" or how ever it is spelled? I never know how to reply to that. I grew up in South Africa and have lived in England for nearly 10 years. This "yarite" thing leaves me stumped: it is "Hello, how are you, are you alright?" or is it "You alright?" or what???

And how are you supposed to answer? It is usually said in passing on the school run when there is no time to answer properly other than with a "Yarite!" back at them!!

y'arite? - i think are you alright?

reply.

yes thank you, I am well. How are you today?

round here its "Howya. Story?"

I hate "Good, thanks" as a response. By all means tell me you're "Fine" or "Feeling a bit crap, actually" but I don't want to be told that you're "Good". Good at what?

Or like this:

"Hello! How are you?"
"How are you!"

That usually gets a "hmm...yes." from me.

Yarite's repply is eye!

Is it not cultured?

Ca Va?

Oui ca va.

'Yarite?' is presumably the same as 'awwrite?' To which the answer is 'awwrite?'
it is where i live anyway.....

innit :-D

Alright? How bis?

I used to teach my EFL/ESOL students that the answer to How are you is How are you and NOT a rub down of your ailments

I've got into the habit of saying 'wagwan' which is ridiculous cos I'm not even vaguely ghetto. most people look at me like I'm a dick. Which I am

PMSL @ somedayma

and most others on this thread

The yawrite or awwrite throws me for a loop too. I only really speak Canadian. So most mornings I just plow right through with a very loud and rushed "Good Morning!" and hope for the best.

my mum said 'likkle more' to me the other day somedayma, she also says wahgwan when she feels like it.. okay we live in a very culturally diverse area but she grew up in deepest darkest Cornwall

not 'eh?' hearts

I've been known to say "yes" to "how are you?" because most people here say "Are you alright?" and when someone doesn't it throws me. I spend a lot of time in pain and utterly at the end of rope and if I told the truth I would just scream NO! I am not fucking alright and rant from there so I just say "yeah" and smile. It's a habit now so the "yeah" tends to come out even when the first thing someone says is something else entirely.
Almost all my day to day conversation consists of
"Aya"
"aya"
"Aright?"
"Yeah"
"Ta-ra"
"Ta-ra"
and that's the sum total of my interaction with anyone outside of DH and the DCs
I'm sad aren't I?

How you dain?
Aye no bad, no bad

Alright!
Alright, how's it goin?
Aye, alright!

Twenty four.

Here, 'are you alright?' or 'alright?' is completely different from 'how are you?' as it is used to mean 'what can I do for you' so demands a specific response and the classic 'fine thanks' will not do.

So, go into a shop or cafe, wish to order. Member of staff: 'you alright', you: 'fine thanks', puzzled or indifferent member of staff moves on to next customer. You: 'I'm fine but I did want...'. Too late.

I also detest 'good thanks', a recent intrusion into the national dialogue. 'Really, you give a lot to charity? You're ardently religious? In what way are you good?' I was asking whether you are well, not for a rundown of your virtues.

Yareet?
Aye.

Pint?
Aye. Goo un.

Sum total of Dad and Bro's conversations.