On: I’m a very slow thinker (2016)

[voltagex_]

I wonder if it's an Australian thing for the response to "how ya goin'?" to be "how ya goin'?".

[westoncb → voltagex_]

We also have this in certain corners of the U.S.:

A: "'sup [man]?" B: "'sup?"

(It's also stated only has like a half-question or less—the usual question lilt is deemphasized.)

[toomanybeersies → voltagex_]

I've always considered the standard reply to be "yeah nah, not too bad, yourself?". I think that it's possibly more Kiwi than Australian though.

[keithnz → toomanybeersies]

usually we'd do a yeah nah, as an optimized "I hear what you are saying, but that's not true... < inform the person of the truth >"

as in "You're looking well", "yeah, nah, been a bit crook lately"

[buchanae → toomanybeersies]

I love how often phrases start with "yeah..."

[derefr → voltagex_]

As well, the South African “howzit”, which from my observation isn’t even actually a question but just invites the other person to say what they wanted to say.

[n4r9 → derefr]

In the south of England we have "alright?". The only valid answer is "alright?.

[davnicwil → n4r9]

"Alright" I think is used all over England, maybe even the UK, it's not specific to the south :-)

[justsomedude43 → n4r9]

Yeah I find that annoying. It means nothing and is just a waste of everyone's time, much like:

"How are you?" "Not bad, yourself?" "Good, so I have this problem..."

"Hey, how was your weekend?" "Not bad actually, you?" "Yeah not bad"

I mean, you clearly have no interest in other person's life, so why have stupid, dull, pointless greetings like that?

[matt-snider → voltagex_]

In Germany, people say "Na?" or "Na du?" to which the other person usually responds the same.

It's not easy to translate but I think it's quite similar to the greetings mentioned above. Literally it's something like: Well? You? (and not 'well' in the sense of goodness, but rather questioning)

It's an interesting greeting and as a foreigner seemed very odd at first.

[voltagex_ → matt-snider]

Which part/s of Germany did you hear that in?

[matt-snider → voltagex_]

Several areas, but mostly Northern Germany. It's also quite common in movies/TVs, so I think it's quite widespread.