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"Thank you. Good morning."

 
 
WBYeats
 
Reply Mon 27 May, 2013 02:28 am
Now when we greet someone, very often the phrase depends on the time of day
eg Good morning/afternoon/evening

In the Importance of Being Earnest, when Jack sees the Lady leave, the Lady says Good morning, which sounds the way to say goodbye a hundred years ago in England.

In a Sherlockian story, when Holmes sees Mortimer leave, he says:

"Thank you. Good morning."

Obviously this Good morning means goodbye; is it now the usual way to say goodbye upon someone's departure?
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contrex
 
  1  
Reply Mon 27 May, 2013 03:00 am
@WBYeats,
Those examples are from the 19th century, when, as you have noticed, people often said "Good morning", "Good afternoon" or "Good evening", both when they met and left someone in the morning, afternoon or evening respectively. I remember as a small child noticing that my grandmother, born in 1890, did this. However this is very old fashioned and would be considered odd nowadays. People would be more likely to say "goodbye", although there are many possible parting remarks that people use.

Nobody ever says or said "Good night" when they meeting someone at night, only when parting.

WBYeats
 
  1  
Reply Mon 27 May, 2013 04:21 am
@contrex,
Thank you~

It's very interesting to know the way people greet~
McTag
 
  1  
Reply Mon 27 May, 2013 01:10 pm
@WBYeats,

It might be useful to consider the origins of these expressions.

"Goodbye" is a contraction of "God be with you".

"Good morning" can mean "I bid you good morning" or "I wish you a good morning" that is, on meeting or on parting.
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Setanta
 
  1  
Reply Mon 27 May, 2013 01:54 pm
Occasionally, saying "good morning," "good day" or "good night" is an expression of dismissal. It's not necessarily friendly at all. If i got tired of you asking me questions, i might say "good morning," and then ignore you thereafter, meaning "I've heard enough, it's time for you to leave." This can only be understood in the context of the speaker's obvious displeasure.
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WBYeats
 
  1  
Reply Mon 27 May, 2013 11:11 pm
Thank you~

Very helpful~
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