Lionel Richie’s “Hello” was a familiar question that has been sung, quoted, and parodied for decades. Years later, Adele had her own “Hello” moment. Fast forward to the current generation, and the answer might not begin with “Hello” at all. I’m constantly intrigued by words like “slay” and the other expressions today’s generation uses, which clearly give away my age to anyone reading this.
Growing up in Singapore, I was surrounded by languages from the beginning. English was the language of school and work, Mandarin was part of everyday life, and Malay, Tamil, Cantonese, and other dialects were never far away. Even within English, the way we greeted someone could depend on who they were, where they came from, and how well we knew them.
For me, “hello” often became something much shorter: “Wei?” (“喂?” – wéi). In Mandarin, it is commonly used when answering the phone and is roughly equivalent to "Hello?" But in Singapore, the word became much more than a literal translation. Growing up watching Chinese television, hearing it constantly on screen made it feel almost instinctive.
But even beyond that, it evolved again.
Between friends, we developed our own little language, fondly calling it “Gerlinglish.” It was a collection of expressions, pronunciations, jokes, and verbal shortcuts that evolved organically within our circle. Some words meant something completely different from what they appeared to mean. Others made absolutely no sense to anyone outside the group.
For us, “Hello” became "Yellow?" an excerpt from a joke we giggled about as kids. No explanation was required, at least not among us friends. And that, to me, represents something fascinating about language: it is not simply a dictionary of words. It is a living system shaped by relationships, culture, technology, and shared experience.
The recent discussion about younger generations becoming less accustomed to saying “hello” highlights this beautifully. As communication moves from phone calls to messaging apps, voice notes, emojis, and short-form replies, greetings themselves are changing. “Hey,” “Hi,” “Yo,” “Wassup?” or even no greeting at all can communicate familiarity in ways that a traditional “Hello” once did.
But beyond all these nuances, language tells us who we are and who we belong to.
A phrase can signal nationality, age, friendship, workplace culture, or even a shared history. Now, living in Australia, I’ve developed a whole new vocabulary among friends that would probably warrant another separate article.
Regardless, living in a multilingual environment makes this particularly visible. With technology making borders increasingly porous, the way we communicate is becoming even more prone to evolution. We routinely switch between languages, dialects, and registers depending on context.
Sometimes we translate. Sometimes we blend. Sometimes we invent.
That's why communication can't be as simple as replacing one word with another. Effective localization requires an understanding of the cultural context behind the words, especially what is being communicated, how it is being communicated, and even the visual and tonal cues surrounding it. These are nuances that still require human judgment, cultural understanding, and experience.
Here’s my takeaway as a self-proclaimed sage of languages:
Language evolves with the people who use it.
Culture shapes not only what we say, but also how we say it.
Shared language creates belonging, even when outsiders cannot understand it.
Good communication is about meaning, context, and connection, and not just words.
Is “Hello” disappearing?
The way we greet others is probably simply changing. And that evolution is nothing new. Language has always adapted to the people, cultures, and technologies that shape our lives. We needn’t be scared or surprised. Because perhaps the most meaningful language isn't always the one everyone understands.
*This was originally published by Gerald Lee here: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/when-hello-becomes-yellow-gerald-lee-wznme/
Gerald Lee is the Chief Marketing Officer with Flynde, a global company providing translation solutions to businesses of all sizes.
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