Dave's ESL Cafe's Student Discussion Forums

[fussy]

Hello,

I know that in a language like Japanese honorative form is used when speaking with older people.

I know that in English formal form is used in formal writing and formal speech.

But I don't know if in English formal form is used to speak with older people?

Particularly, I would like to know the following expressions are acceptable to talk with an older person or not:

-OK
-Talk to you then.
-What's up?

I am an English learner and I am not living in English speaking environment. So I have many wonders ...

Thanks very much!

[asterix]

OK is pretty much universally accepted.
Talk to you then is not formal.
What's up? is not Ok in formal conversation
It is not so much the age of the person, as his status, that counts in western society, generally speaking.
For instance you would not greet the German President with, "What's up?"
Although the American President might be amused.

So I would advise you, if you want to make a good impression when speaking English in formal situations, to start off with correct English, and to avoid slang expressions initially.