I'm English. I live in the US. I actually like the American "how are you?" ritual; it can simply act as a ritual, but it can also convey genuine welcome, or you can go "off script" as necessary.
Contrast to the older English "how do you do" pairing, which is so much a non-question that it doesn't even deserve a question mark.
In my small town, I'd venture that most how-are-you questions are genuine.
Contrast to the older English "how do you do" pairing, which is so much a non-question that it doesn't even deserve a question mark.
In my small town, I'd venture that most how-are-you questions are genuine.