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Hello, I'm Catherine.
Hello, I'm Rob.
We both started with what is probably the best known greeting in English,
and one of the first words English language students learn, and that is...
So, today, in six-minute English, we're digging a little deeper into the world of greetings and the fascinating history of...
Surprisingly, the word hello is not as old as you might think,
but when did it first appear in print in English?
Was it A, in the 1890s?
B, the 1950s, or C, the 1820s?
Well, I think English changes really quickly, so I'm going to say...
B, the 1950s.
And we'll say hello again to hello, a little later in the programme.
First greetings, they can be a bit of a minefield, a subject full of unpredictable difficulties.
While in many places, a handshake or a bow is normal,
there's also the tricky question of kisses and hugs.
Mm-hmm, awkward.
Should you kiss how many times, and should your lips touch their cheek?
No, Rob, definitely an air kiss.