What is the real meaning when people ask "How do you do?" when greeting each other?

Question

Is it a secret cultish code type greeting?

Answer 1

Hey! Don't tell anyone but you may be on to something! *lol* :)

Really, if you look at the phrase itself it does *not* parse into a mere substitute for "How are you?" on any level. It is an asking of *how* you *do* "what you do".

Meaning, it is similar in concept to the old classical Roman Greeting of "Where are your tools?"

It is at bottom a social, and economic interrogation disguised as a polite way to start a conversation. It is less rude and direct than just glaring at folks and asking them, "Well, WHAT DO YOU DO FOR MONEY??" which is no doubt how some of the ancient Romans went about their "tool" question. Randomly barking "Got Work?" at folks like some manner of Pecking Order Enforcement.

Really. Think I exaggerate? Diagram the grammar of the question..."How do you do?" *is* implicitly two questions. Namely, "What do you do? [.."for a living?" being implied] and "How [well] do you do it?"

And if you don't want people dumping on your "poor ettiquette", which is something a *rich man* would pick at in the course of a conversation (historically true, look it up), you answer "Fine!", and walk away, refusing to speak to the interrogator. Seriously. No need to smile or be sincere about it, this is only a *conformity* test so that others can check to see if *you too* are also Down on the Plantation.

But you didn't hear that from me. :) Carry on.

Answer 2

Traditionally, speaking well was regarded as proof of a good education. It was also important in the theater and in the liturgy, as the inclusion of rhetoric in the medieval trivium shows. To reach a theater audience or a congregation, clear speech was essential. Bühnensprache, stage language, unified spoken German.

...

The fact that the court and the upper classes spoke the standard language inevitably led to snobbery and the popular resentment of it. The worst case was England, where certain forms of speech were U or non U, U standing for upper class. "I'm pleased to meet you" was non-U. U required that you say "How do you do", even though the non-U greeting makes much more sense. The expression "King's English" was displaced by "Oxford English," or "BBC English," since the BBC spread the standard throughout Britain.

There are demands for a standard spoken English. I suggest that phoneticians study its variants using two criteria. Which is the clearest and the most euphonic? Would someone please take up this challenge?

Answer 3

Secret cultish code? LOL!!! No. It's only a natural and polite thing to ask when you see someone. "How do you do" is a normal exchange of greeting between people, like "How are you?", you know.

Answer 4

It was custom in the earlier colonial times to be introduced only to working people and asking "how do you do?" is a way of asking "how's business?"

Answer 5

No, its just something u say to seem polite and start conversation.

Answer 6

it is a polite gesture. not to be answered truthfully. i seen people who will really tell you how they are doing, it get deeper,and deeper. and awkward, since they really don't want to hear your problems.

Answer 7

No, it's a very outmoded way of saying "how ya doin'?"

Answer 8

It's just something to say so you don't seem rude......If you think about it, no one really gives a damn how you are!

Answer 9

Hi, hic! how do you, burp! do what?

Answer 10

? How do you do means, how are you doing, doesn't it??