Does "What's new?" (meaning "What's up?", "How are you doing?") really sound very odd and/or outdated?
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Does "What's new?" (meaning "What's up?", "How are you doing?") really sound very odd and/or outdated?
Doesn't it mean just "Чего нового?"?
Literally, it does (I'd say "Что нового" though), but do you really expect to hear some news when you see a friend and say to him "Привет, что новенького"? Well, maybe sometimes you do, but in English "What's up?" means "How are you doing?" (...several natives told me that at least...), so I want to ask if "What's new?" sounds bad.Quote:
Originally Posted by Leof
Same as "what's up?" or "how are you?" really. It could be a literal question or it could simply be a meaningless greeting - just another synonym for "hi". Which it is depends as much on how the person being asked chooses to answer as on the intent of the person asking the question. It doesn't sound "bad" though, it's quite a common informal greeting.
I hear it pretty often. It is more common if you haven't seen someone for some time. The idea is to find out what has been happening to your friend since you last saw them. A formal way to say it: "Is there anything new in your life since last I saw you?" THAT question would sound very odd and stilted, but that is the general idea.
The normal responses to this question:
1. You could mention anything important that has happened to you recently (won the lottery, got married, etc)
or, if you don't really want to talk much
2 "Nothing much"
Many thanks for the replies.
Well, I find English quite difficult first of all because natives very often can't agree that a sentence sound fine.
For example, someone (a Brit) told me "What's new" is bad, but scotcher is a Britisher too, and he said it's ok...
Sometimes native speakers aren't the best teachers :)Quote:
Originally Posted by Оля
What's new? is used constantly around me.
What's new, Buenos Aires?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=dLuGqkUjcEE
Ignore the hysterical subtitles...:)
Разве первое, что мы скажем человеку при встрече, будет "Что нового?"? Так сразу, в лоб? Не думаю. Сначала идёт "Привет!", "Здорово!", "Здравствуйте!". Потом скорее всего пойдёт "Как дела?". И только потом логично спросить "Что нового?" То же самое в английском.
А кто говорил, что это первое, в лоб? "Привет", само собой. А вот "как дела" между "привет" и "что нового" совершенно не обязательно. Посмотри первые три минуты "Кин-дза-дзы". :wink:Quote:
Originally Posted by Lampada
Quote:
Well, I find English quite difficult first of all because natives very often can't agree that a sentence sound fine.
Я бы тоже самое о русском сказал.Quote:
Leof wrote:
Doesn't it mean just "Чего нового?"?
Literally, it does (I'd say "Что нового" though)
Oi oi , Olya - don't forget that there are many kinds of Britishers, and that the language differences in the different regions are probably much larger than the language differences between the Russian regions (as far as I've understood). Scotcher is just that - scottish. And what may sound perfectly fine to him, may sound strange to a Londener, and what the Londoner says, may in turn sound strange to a Liverpudlian. And what the Liverpudlian says, sounds strange to everybody. :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by Оля
I spend a lot of time in Ireland - there, for example, I've never ever heard "what's new" as a greeting, only as a real question, that expects a real answer. On the other hand, the Irish will say "how are you?" (pronounced "harrrryeh" :lol: :lol: ) and mean "hello" - and then be baffled when the person they talk to actually tells them how they are! :lol:
What about "What's new at home"? Is it ok?
Yes, it is ok. That's a normal way to ask about someone's family.Quote:
Originally Posted by Оля
Thank you very much, paulb :)
In america 'Whats up' means whats new/whats happeneing. In Englalnd though it means whats wrong.
No, it can mean either "what's wrong?" or "how are you?"Quote:
Originally Posted by GreenLarry
Err as an englishman I can defintely say its more likely to mean whats wrong,whats the matter. I should know, I've lived here 41 years!Quote:
Originally Posted by TATY
Taty is defintely an Englishman as well.
Though, through my travels in England I've notived people tend to say either "Hey ya" or "hey ya goin" where American's would say what's up.
Larry, can I ask you as an Englishman how "What's new?" sounds to you?Quote:
Originally Posted by GreenLarry
Well. Im a native English speaker, and it isnt really said much around my region. Though if the saying is heard its not abnormal.
To most English people, this is just another way of saying "whats up?".
Its not really regional thing in my opinion, its just a phrase which isnt said that much but some people say it.
what is your 'region' are you up in the Yucon or something?
Not quite sure what you mean Olya. How does it sound, or what do i say? Well i might say So whats new? Or 'What you been up to','Whats new with you','Whats happening' etc depending on my mood or who i'm talking to. BTW Olya is that Alan Rickman in your avatar?Quote:
Originally Posted by Оля
I meant, does the question "What's new?" sound ok to your English ears :)Quote:
Originally Posted by GreenLarry
Yes, that's Rickman.
[quote=Оля]I meant, does the question "What's new?" sound ok to your English ears :)Quote:
Originally Posted by GreenLarry
Yes, that's Rickman.[/quote:3ceqebt5]
"What's new?" is fine, but it does suggest you expect a more specific answer, i.e. you want to actually know what they've been doing since you last saw them. Most people will just say "nothing" anyway.
TATY answered my question about English language. A miracle.
So how's your nothing?Quote:
Originally Posted by TATY
It sounds just fine. It's not passe or anything. More common than the people on this thread will allow.Quote:
I meant, does the question "What's new?" sound ok to your English ears :)
I'd just shy away from using the expression if you're greeting someone you see on a daily basis, that is, unless you use it consistently, whereby it loses its punch. As a non-native speaker, however, I'd say you'd be wise to use "what's up" or "what's happenin" with every-day acquaintances. It's just that, if someone uses "what's new" with people they see every day, it's likely a style-choice that'll have little credibility coming from a non-native speaker who, as we unconsciously assume, has probably no understanding of the typical pragmatic meaning of the phrase (a significant period of time has elapsed since we last met) in which case the non-native sounds a bit unnatural and mistaken.
But if you only see someone twice a week or less, and you're on respectful terms with them (i.e., no "what's crackin, ass slappin?") it'd actually be more appropriate to say "what's new," since there's probably new stuff to fill you in on...depending on intonation, in such a case, "wazzup" could actually be quite snubbing.
So, someone you see everyday: "Wazzup, beancup?"
If you haven't seen someone for a couple of days or more or any perceived significant period of time: "Wazz new, Donkey Poo?"