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The phrase "what's up" is an informal greeting used to initiate conversation and inquire about someone's well-being or current activities. Its meaning varies based on context and relationship between speakers, and it functions as a social lubricant, particularly in informal settings.
Key Facts:
- The phrase "what's up" can be traced back to the early 19th century in English works of fiction.
- Bugs Bunny's catchphrase, "What's up, Doc?", significantly popularized the greeting in the 1940s.
- Variations like "wassup" and "whassup" evolved through the slurring of consonants and were cemented in popular culture by a 1999 Budweiser commercial campaign.
- Some linguists suggest its roots are in African American Vernacular English (AAVE), emerging in the early 20th century.
- Unlike "How are you," "what's up" is an informal greeting that asks "what's going on" or "what are you doing at present," and is often rhetorical.
Origin and Etymology of "What's up"
The phrase "what's up" originated in the early 19th century, initially appearing in English fiction as both a question and a greeting, often referring to an event or problem that was "up" or happening. Its meaning of "busy with" or "occupied with" emerged from slang in the 1920s or 30s, and it gained significant popularity in the 1940s due to Bugs Bunny.
Key Facts:
- "What's up" can be traced back to the early 19th century.
- Initially, it often referred to an event or problem that was "up" or happening.
- The "up" in the phrase was interpreted as slang from the 1920s or 30s, meaning "busy with" or "occupied with."
- The phrase gained significant popularity in the 1940s due to Bugs Bunny's catchphrase, "What's up, Doc?".
- Later iterations like "wassup," "whassup," "whaddup," and "wazzup" evolved in the early 20th century through slurring of consonants.
Bugs Bunny's "What's up, Doc?" Influence
Bugs Bunny significantly popularized the phrase "What's up, Doc?" in the 1940s, with his first utterance in the 1940 cartoon "A Wild Hare." Creator Tex Avery brought the phrase from his hometown, and Bugs Bunny's nonchalant delivery made it a widely adopted catchphrase, with "Doc" serving as a casual term of address.
Key Facts:
- Bugs Bunny popularized "What's up, Doc?" in the 1940s.
- The catchphrase first appeared in the 1940 cartoon "A Wild Hare."
- Tex Avery, Bugs Bunny's creator, used it from his hometown in Taylor, Texas.
- Bugs Bunny's delivery, often while chewing a carrot, contributed to its memorability.
- "Doc" in the phrase functioned as a casual term of address like "pal" or "dude."
Early 19th Century Origins of "What's up"
The phrase "What's up" originated in the early 19th century, initially appearing in English fiction as both a question and a greeting. At this stage, it often referred to an event or problem that was "up" or happening, as evidenced by its usage in literary works and letters from the period.
Key Facts:
- "What's up" can be traced back to the early 19th century.
- It first appeared in English works of fiction as both a question and a greeting.
- Initially, it referred to an event or problem that was "up" or happening.
- Examples include an 1838 letter by E.C. Gaskell and an 1851 text by H. Mayhew.
- The Oxford English Dictionary notes the frequent use of "up" in this colloquial sense from around 1850.
Early 20th Century Variations of "What's up"
Informal variations of "what's up," such as "wassup," "whassup," "whaddup," and "wazzup," emerged in the early 20th century through the slurring of consonants. These iterations, particularly "wassup," saw a significant surge in popularity around the year 2000, largely due to the 1999 Budweiser commercial campaign.
Key Facts:
- Informal variations like "wassup," "whassup," "whaddup," and "wazzup" evolved in the early 20th century.
- These variations resulted from the slurring of consonants.
- "Wassup" became very common around the year 2000.
- The 1999 Budweiser commercial campaign significantly amplified the popularity of "wassup."
- The commercial was based on Charles Stone III's short film "True".
Slang Evolution of "up" in "What's up"
By the 1920s or 1930s, the "up" in the phrase "what's up" evolved into slang, signifying "busy with" or "occupied with." This transformation changed the question into an inquiry about what a person was focusing their attention on, leading to its modern greeting connotation.
Key Facts:
- The "up" in the phrase evolved into slang by the 1920s or 1930s.
- This slang interpretation meant "busy with" or "occupied with."
- The evolution transformed the phrase into an inquiry about a person's current focus.
- This shift predates the phrase's major popularization by Bugs Bunny.
Usage and Cultural Significance of "What's up"
"What's up" is a casual and informal greeting, often rhetorical, not always requiring a detailed response. It functions as a social lubricant, facilitating connection and conversation, particularly among younger generations and in informal settings. Its use can be inappropriate in formal situations or with strangers.
Key Facts:
- "What's up" is considered a casual and informal greeting.
- It is often rhetorical, not always requiring a detailed response.
- Common responses include "Nothing much" or "Not much."
- The phrase functions as a social lubricant, facilitating connection and conversation.
- Using "what's up" with strangers or in formal situations can be considered inappropriate.
Dual Functionality of "What's up"
"What's up" demonstrates a dual functionality, serving both as a casual, often rhetorical greeting and as a genuine inquiry into someone's well-being or current activities. The interpretation of its meaning heavily relies on the context and tone of voice used during the interaction.
Key Facts:
- "What's up" primarily functions as a casual and informal greeting, similar to "Hi" or "Hey."
- As a greeting, it is often rhetorical and does not require a detailed response.
- It can also be a genuine inquiry about someone's well-being, current activities, or what's happening in their life.
- The specific meaning is conveyed through context and tone of voice.
- When used as a greeting, common responses include "Not much" or "Nothing really."
Informal and Contextual Usage Protocol
The usage protocol for "What's up" is strictly informal and context-dependent. It is predominantly reserved for interactions among friends, family, and acquaintances, with its application in formal or professional settings generally deemed inappropriate, reflecting a cultural emphasis on casual social interactions.
Key Facts:
- "What's up" is predominantly used in informal settings.
- Its usage is appropriate among friends, family, and acquaintances.
- Using "what's up" with strangers or in formal situations is generally considered inappropriate.
- This reflects a cultural tendency towards casualness in social interactions.
- Examples of inappropriate use include professional environments or with an older professor.
Pop Culture Influence on "What's up"
The phrase "What's up" has undergone significant evolution, with its popularity notably amplified by various pop culture references. Iconic appearances, such as Bugs Bunny's signature greeting and the Budweiser "Whassup" campaign, have cemented its place in the popular lexicon and influenced its widespread adoption.
Key Facts:
- The phrase "what's up" has roots in the early 19th century.
- Its popularity was significantly boosted by pop culture.
- Bugs Bunny's signature greeting "What's up, Doc?" in the 1940s contributed to its widespread use.
- A 1999 Budweiser commercial campaign featuring "Whassup" further cemented its popularity.
- The name of the messaging app WhatsApp also plays on this greeting, indicating its cultural penetration.
Response Nuances to "What's up"
Responses to "What's up" are nuanced and vary significantly based on whether the phrase is perceived as a mere greeting or a genuine inquiry. Standard responses range from brief acknowledgments like "Not much" to more detailed explanations of current activities or well-being, reflecting the perceived intent of the speaker.
Key Facts:
- Responses to "What's up?" vary depending on whether it's a greeting or a genuine question.
- For a greeting, "Not much" or "Nothing much" are common responses.
- Responses to a true inquiry can include sharing specific activities like "Just working on [something specific]."
- Expressions of well-being, such as "I'm good, thanks for asking," are also common responses.
- Neutral responses like "Same ol' same ol'" or "So-so" can be used.
"What's up" as Social Lubricant
"What's up" serves as a critical social lubricant, effectively initiating connections and facilitating conversation in informal settings. It functions as a friendly and laid-back method to start interaction, signaling an invitation for shared updates and fostering rapport among peers.
Key Facts:
- "What's up" serves as a social lubricant.
- It facilitates connection and conversation.
- It is a friendly, laid-back way to initiate a conversation.
- The phrase signals an invitation to share news or updates.
- It helps to build rapport and foster a relaxed atmosphere among peers.
"What's up" vs. "How are you"
While often used interchangeably, "what's up" and "how are you" have distinct nuances. "What's up" is an informal greeting inquiring about current happenings or activities, or a current state of affairs if something seems amiss. In contrast, "how are you" is generally more formal and polite, directly inquiring about a person's well-being or emotional state, expecting a brief, positive response.
Key Facts:
- "What's up" is an informal greeting that asks "what's going on" or "what are you doing at present?".
- "How are you" is generally more formal and polite.
- "How are you" directly inquires about a person's well-being or emotional state.
- "How are you" typically expects a brief, positive response like "I'm good" or "Fine, thanks."
- "What's up" is a more casual conversation starter focused on current happenings, while "how are you" is a more direct and often more personal inquiry.
Expected Greeting Response Protocols
The expected response protocols for "What's up" and "How are you" differ significantly. "What's up" typically elicits casual answers like "Nothing much" or a brief overview of activities, while "How are you" usually anticipates a brief, positive, and often rote reply such as "I'm good" followed by a reciprocal question.
Key Facts:
- To "What's up," common answers include "Nothing much," "Not much," "Just chilling," or a brief overview of current activities.
- In some casual contexts, a simple "Hey" or a non-verbal acknowledgment can suffice for "What's up."
- "How are you" generally anticipates a brief, positive, and often rote response like "I'm good," "Fine, thanks," or "Doing well."
- Responses to "How are you" are typically followed by a reciprocal question.
- Offering a detailed account of one's struggles in response to a casual "How are you" might be unexpected.
Informal vs. Formal Greeting Function
"What's up" and "How are you" serve different greeting functions based on formality. "What's up" is an informal greeting used among close acquaintances, while "How are you" is generally more formal and polite, suitable for a wider range of social interactions.
Key Facts:
- "What's up" is an informal, casual greeting primarily used among close acquaintances, friends, or younger people.
- "What's up" can be seen as lacking gravity or respect in more formal settings.
- "How are you" is generally more formal and polite, suitable for a wider range of social interactions.
- "How are you" is appropriate with strangers, older individuals, or in professional environments.
- Using "What's up" in a formal situation would likely be considered inappropriate.
Phatic vs. Interrogative Greeting Function
Both "What's up" and "How are you" can function phatically, aiming to establish social connection rather than genuinely seek information. However, they can also be used non-phatically, for example, when a genuine inquiry about well-being is required, making the choice context-dependent.
Key Facts:
- Both "What's up" and "How are you" can function phatically.
- Phatic function means they are used to establish a social connection or express a friendly greeting rather than genuinely seek information.
- In their phatic function, they can convey a similar social message.
- Both phrases can also be used non-phatically.
- A police officer asking "How are you?" after an accident genuinely inquires about physical well-being, where "What's up" would be inappropriate.
Underlying Intent of Greeting
The underlying intent of "What's up" is typically to serve as a casual conversation starter, inquiring about current happenings or activities. Conversely, "How are you" is a more direct inquiry into a person's general well-being or emotional state, often functioning as a polite social gesture.
Key Facts:
- "What's up" typically serves as a casual conversation starter, inquiring about current happenings, recent events, or what someone is doing at present.
- "What's up" can implicitly ask if something is amiss if the tone suggests it.
- "How are you" is a more direct inquiry into a person's general well-being, health, or emotional state.
- "How are you" often functions as a polite social gesture or an icebreaker.
- A lengthy, honest answer about one's true feelings is not always expected when asked "How are you" by acquaintances or strangers.