Date: Fri, 24 Oct 1997 02:22:37 EDT

From: Julia Cochran COCPROFS[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]UGA.CC.UGA.EDU

Subject: Re: hello/good-bye



On Thu, 23 Oct 1997 22:34:04 EDT RonButters said:



No, "Good-bye" does not "really mean" "God be with you" (whatever its

history). It "really means" 'this conversation is over' or 'I am leaving'.

"Bless you," on the other hand, has no meaning at all (other than 'I am being

conventionally polite by uttering this prayer formula'). The difference is

that "Good-bye" serves a conversational function, while "Bless you" has no

primary function whatever.



No function other than to provide an excuse to make contact with a fellow

human. Those who say "bless you" when you sneeze likely have some interest in

making contact with you, or with other people in general. Those who do

not, likely have no such interest.