"hi Yah!"

[samkydd]

Many British programmes, mainly set up t’ north, have this stock greeting from a female now which is “Hi yah!” in a sort of high pitched whining screech which sounds like someone’s just shoved a bag of ice cubes between her legs whilst at the same time stubbing a fag out in her eye!

It’s common in every soap, Northern drama, news programmes, and many others TV offerings. As well as on TV it is now spreading amongst female hotel guests in the Canary Islands and Balearics, mainly those with obese children who eat chips at 9am and whose husbands drink pints of lager at breakfast and walk into dinner in a vest and shorts dripping with sweat and gold chains!

It’s not quite as bad as Australian Questioning Intonation (AQI) but I have a sneaky feeling that it originated from there via such things as Neighbours and Home and Away!

Does anyone know where “Hi yah!” comes from, and more importantly, when is it going back? [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbdown.gif[/img]

[Aenima]

I must say, I've been enjoying the series Coast over the past few weeks. However, one of the presenters has the most irritating intonation. It really does spoil the prog. for me. It's not an AQI but it's got a "Q" element to it.
Cheers,
A

[samkydd]

Originally posted by Jonathan Woss@Aug 9 2005, 06:11 PM Hiyah Sam! I have to jump in here and say it's not confined to the places you mention. Here in darkest Wiltshire it's used as well and to such an extent that when I use the greeting 'Hello', I get strange looks. It's just as though I'm speaking to them in a foreign language. As to how it originated, I wouldn't mind betting it found it's way over here from the U.S., after all, that's where they greet each other with 'Hi'. So, to translate: Hi = Hello + Yah = You. Hello you. Strange species, the humans. <div align="right">[post=]Quoted post[/post]</div>

If you're right then I must apologise to any Aussies out there. I usually blame the Americans for all man's ills anyway, but on this occassion I slipped up!

We'll have to invent a new British 21st century greeting to try and stamp out all the "Hi Yahs!" I usually use "Good morning" or "Good afternoon" or "Good evening" so I suppose you could sex these up a bit and say "Goomo!" or "Goodavvie!" or "Gevo!" but I'd rather not.

Or go regional perhaps;"Ay up me duck", "Yam orlroight!", "Owzit goin?'",
"Que pasa?", "Nangadeff?"

[Steve Crook]

Originally posted by samkydd@Aug 10 2005, 11:00 AM If you're right then I must apologise to any Aussies out there. I usually blame the Americans for all man's ills anyway, but on this occassion I slipped up! We'll have to invent a new British 21st century greeting to try and stamp out all the "Hi Yahs!" I usually use "Good morning" or "Good afternoon" or "Good evening" so I suppose you could sex these up a bit and say "Goomo!" or "Goodavvie!" or "Gevo!" but I'd rather not. Or go regional perhaps;"Ay up me duck", "Yam orlroight!", "Owzit goin?'", "Que pasa?", "Nangadeff?" <div align="right">Quoted post</div>

What about the London "Wotcher" or the Welsh "Bore da"?

Steve

[samkydd]

Originally posted by Steve Crook@Aug 10 2005, 02:37 PM What about the London "Wotcher" or the Welsh "Bore da"? Steve <div align="right">Quoted post</div>

Yes I suspect there are a few more I've missed including my old home village in Norfolk "Are yew orl roight my boy?" and "How yew gettin' on?" and "Blass me boy I hant seen yew for yonks!" and to take your leave it was; "Cheery Bye" and "Keep you a troshin' boy!", and the old favourite "You hent gorn 'til yew get a f***in' round in boy or I'll give yew such a thackin' !''

[Steve Crook]

Originally posted by samkydd@Aug 10 2005, 04:06 PM Yes I suspect there are a few more I've missed including my old home village in Norfolk "Are yew orl roight my boy?" and "How yew gettin' on?" and "Blass me boy I hant seen yew for yonks!" and to take your leave it was; "Cheery Bye" and "Keep you a troshin' boy!", and the old favourite "You hent gorn 'til yew get a f***in' round in boy or I'll give yew such a thackin' !'' <div align="right">Quoted post</div>

[img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/cheers.gif[/img] [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/clapping.gif[/img]

Steve

[JamesM]

I have heard its use in South Yorkshire since my childhood (I was born in the 1960s) so it predates "Neighbours" somewhat.

[Jennie_Kermode]

I can confirm what JamesM says. I always figured it was the longer form of 'hi' (we used to spell it 'hiya'), which dropped out of use over time as most people preferred something shorter.

Jennie

[samkydd]

(Jennie_Kermode @ Aug 11 2005, 01:35 PM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'> I can confirm what JamesM says. I always figured it was the longer form of 'hi' (we used to spell it 'hiya'), which dropped out of use over time as most people preferred something shorter. Jennie [/b]

But do TV script writers really put "Hi ya!" in the script?

[arty-dave]

See you lader (sic) the emphasis on lader, is currently the norm here in Lancashire - aaaarrrrggghhh!!!

[Harbottle]

When living in Norfolk I rather liked the often heard greeting 'Ow Do. I agree the HI YA thing is horrid, most effectively intoned by the ghastly Vera Duckworth [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/shocking.gif[/img]

[arty-dave]

agreed, Jeramiah!

[David Brent]

I can confirm that "Hi Yah!" did not originate in Australia.
We can be blamed for many things - but not that.
"G'day!" was the most common greeting over here to say "Hello". It lasted many year's but has really been superceeded by the plain "Hi" by today's generation.
I've noticed that Geena the Scouse barmaid in the television series 'Heartbeat' always seems to greet customer's with "Hi Yah!". The program is set in the 1950-60's, so if the writer's are being authentic then that greeting must have been around back then.

Dave.

[Jackdaw]

(David Brent @ Dec 5 2005, 03:39 AM) Quoted post</div><div class='quotemain'> I've noticed that Geena the Scouse barmaid in the television series 'Heartbeat' always seems to greet customer's with "Hi Yah!". The program is set in the 1950-60's, so if the writer's are being authentic then that greeting must have been around back then. Dave. [/b]

I've never seen a less authentic series,Dave.
The series appears to be set in c.1969,but it could be any time from then to the mid-seventies.
They have a branchline,not only steam-powered,but operated by large mainline engines, among the many anachronisms.
As to language,there was an episode in which the local vicar referred to his being the victim of a 'scam',a word that did not come to the attention of many in this country until the late seventies/early eighties,let alone a North country clergyman in the sixties.By the way,said vicar was treating his wife's MS with cannabis,another more recent development.
With regard to 'Hi Yah!',I originally associated it with women from metropolitan Yorkshire and Lancashire,but it now appears universal,but again,in my experience,used mainly by women.
I think that originally it meant 'Hi.You!',but now it appears to no more than a vocal embellishment of 'Hi!'.

Jacky

[arty-dave]

Thanks..for..the..compliments..Jonathan..I..did..n ot..create..it..but..found..it..somewhere..or..oth er..

(doris..gets..her..oats)..hasnt..passed..me..by..e ither!! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/thumbsup.gif[/img]