I was mulling over how much we take certain phrases like "hello" as a matter of cultural acceptance. The first published use of the word "hello" was in 1827 in The Oxford English Dictionary and the word was most commonly used to get attention (I imagine much as people now use "hey" or "hey you"). It was Thomas Edison who urged people to use the word "hello" when answering the telephone. According to the NPR article, we could just as easily be saying "Ahoy" (I kind of like this one) since that's what Alexander Graham Bell advocated.
I have often found it interesting to listen to the way people answer the telephone in workplaces, too. I have typically answered my phone at work by saying either, "Hello. This is Carla." or just saying my name "Carla Tevault" if it's a call from within the company. That then confirms that the caller has, I hope, reached who he or she intended to call.
But I have been intrigued by overhearing other people answer their telephones, too. For instance (the names have been changed to protect the innocent):
"Kate here"
"Yes?"
"Martin speaking"
"Hi"
"Hey"
Younger people are using the telephone less and less as they rely on text messaging for communication, so often they must learn telephone skills when they enter the workplace. Or maybe the phone will eventually become obsolete as we all rely on email, texting, Twitter, and Facebook?
How do you answer the phone?
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At work: "my name"
At home: "hello" or "good morning" or "good evening"
My Dad (deceased), one of my sons and my brother - "hello" with a southern drawl that sounds like "yell-ooh".
Some people make their kids answer with a long complicated "this is the ___ residence, ___ speaking." I don't think it is a good idea for little people to give out their first names to unknown callers.
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