this greeting is rarely delivered with ringing confidence: it is usually mumbled rather awkwardly, and as quickly as possible – ‘Plstmtye’ (or Nctmtye, Gdtmtye, etc.). This awkwardness may, perversely, occur precisely because people believe they are saying the ‘correct’ thing. Formality is embarrassing. But, then, informality is embarrassing. Everything is embarrassing.
