Hallo Hello Hullo ...
Colin Harkness
I recently bought "The Oxford Dictionary for Writers and
Editors" since I am fascinated by English rules and it was going
cheap in a sale (only 2 pounds! (was 9)).
I, for some reason, like to spell hallo with an a. I think
it is phonetically more like how I say it. The only time I hear "hello"
is when my mum is on the telephone :). I do, however, spell it with an
`e` when writing formally since I have always thought that was the
established spelling and "hallo" was just a variant.
Indeed, my Collin's dictionary puts "hello" as the main entry
and "hallo" and "Hullo" as variants. However the Oxford dictionary that
I bought recently goes as far as to say that you should use "hallo" and
*not* any of the others. Both the Chambers and some other Oxford dicts.
have "hallo" as the main entry, with the others as variants.
Since you're all such a learned bunch, I have decided to ask you
what you think the correct spelling is (and/or what you use). Do any
of the "enormous" dictionaries have anything more to say on the subject.
PS. Though I am interested in how the Americans (or other
English-speaking people) spell it, I would regard a British dict. to
have more authority.
Colin.
Gavin Williams
Hello is a greeting, as is hallo.
Hullo, on the other hand, implies mild surprise.
"Hullo", he thought, "there's something strange happening."
--
As usual, JIMHO.
Gavin... Plus qu'il n'en faut.
will...@unix1.tcd.ie
Gavin Williams
oops, forgot to say that hallo is a more expansive greeting.
Pat.Ch...@bbs.actrix.gen.nz
You say goodbye... I say *hello*
OK My weighty Shorter Oxford says:
Hallo, halloa ...1850 A later form of Holloa. A shout or exclamation
to call attention or to express surprise (eg on meeting someone unexpectedly)
Hello... 1854 var of hallo
Hillo, hilloa...1602 [var of hollo with altered quality of the
unstressed syllable. A call used to hail a distant or occupied
person, or, now, to express surprise at an unexpected meeting. 2. A
name for this call, 1823.
Hollo, hollow 1588 (akin to holla and hallo) A shout of hollo (esp
in hunting 1598)
Hullo, hulloa...1857 var of hallo, halloa, hillo, hilloa, hollo,
holloa. A call used to hail a person or to excite his attention.
Mmmmmm. No wonder coppers say 'ullo, 'ullo, 'ullo!
My personal preference is hello.
--
********************************************************
* The floggings will continue until morale improves *
* * * Pat.Ch...@bbs.actrix.gen.nz * * *
* Pat Churchill, Wellington, New Zealand - Godzone *
Graham Ellis
You say goodbye... I say *hello*
OK My weighty Shorter Oxford says:
.
.
.
I've been studying deravations of old words for some time (try "The Mother
Tongue" as a reference - fascinating. More details on request.) and my
humble (though unreferenced and uncomfirmed) opinion as explaination of the
OED`s definition (as quoted by the originator of this thread) is:
Goodby - derivation of God Be With You (most people know that one)
Hallo - derivation of Hallowed - contraction maybe of Hallowed Is This Day!
or similar phraseology.
Any other theories as to the origins?
G.J.E.
* The floggings will continue until morale improves *
Hmm. I quite like that one. Mind if I use it?
--
Right, I've got my .sig file. Now, how do get it into my letters...