Thread: What's new?

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?

Originally Posted by Оля

Larry, can I ask you as an Englishman how "What's new?" sounds to you?

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?

Originally Posted by GreenLarry

Originally Posted by Оля

Larry, can I ask you as an Englishman how "What's new?" sounds to you?

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?

I meant, does the question "What's new?" sound ok to your English ears

Yes, that's Rickman.

[quote=Оля]

Originally Posted by GreenLarry

Originally Posted by "Оля":3ceqebt5

Larry, can I ask you as an Englishman how "What's new?" sounds to you?

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?

I meant, does the question "What's new?" sound ok to your English ears

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.

Originally Posted by TATY

Most people will just say "nothing" anyway.

So how's your nothing?

I meant, does the question "What's new?" sound ok to your English ears

It sounds just fine. It's not passe or anything. More common than the people on this thread will allow.

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?"