Originally posted by Shubencadie: Is 'quine' a general Scots word? From my position of comparative ignorance (south-of-England-dweller with Scottish family connections on one side) I'd always had the impression that it was specifically north-eastern.
I think its use in everyday speech is confined to the north east. I've seen it written (sometimes as "quyean") more generally. McDiarmid used "quean" in A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle.
I was at a conference last year, and a fresh-faced twenty-something PhD student gave a paper on it. I had that sinking feeling you get when you realise that aspects of your life are now studied as History.
I thought Reese was a version of Rhys, which is probably known to you.
Ah, I hadn't thought of that. In the UK I once taught a girl called Shardonneh (sic). Something similar may have happened there.
Maybe her origin was in the quantity of wine her parents drank one night, and in their alcoholic haze they got the spelling wrong?
I suspect they had heard the name on TV and had no idea how to spell it. In the same sort of way as the young mum who brought her son to school, and said his name was, "Gooey". She'd got it out of a book, and it was spelt G U Y.
My Midlands aunt once had a girl in her class named Spindonna. When the minister baptised her asked what name she was to be given, the answer was 'S pinned onna, so that's what he named her.
In Northern Ireland names, like so much else, are an indication of Which Side you belong to. Are you a William or a Seamus? An Elizabeth or a Mebh? English or Irish?
It was when my relatives emigrated to England that they started calling their children Séan or Sinead.
Presumably names like Bernadette and John-Paul are a bit of a marker as well, though I suppose if you're a real Nat you ought to go for Seán-Pól?
Here in Scotland, we don't regard Scots as a "dialect of English." Rather, it's a separate language which shares many common roots with modern English.
My own Shipname - Quine - is Scots for woman, and comes from the same root as "Queen".
I believe the word for 'woman' in the Scandinavian languages is similar.
Thinking about it ... are there any typically Canadian names?
If we were asked to think of very American sounding names I'm sure we could reel off Hank and Franklin, Floyd, Duane, Tammy, Delores and the like.
We might also cite the tendency to include a middle initial in a way that wouldn't be common elsewhere - George W Bush, Rufus T Firefly ...
Are there typically Canadian names?
Or Australian? Other than Bruce. Or Kylie.
Darlene does sound Australian, come to think of it but the only instances of the name I've come across are from the USA.
I don't think there are any typically Canadian names, except perhaps in First Nations, where people are named in English translation to names like Bluejay, Birch or River, or after First Nations themselves like Dakota or Cree. I know of one Kinew (compare canoe).
I can't think of anything else in English either, outside the First Nations context.
I have think there's probably a better case for distinctiveness in Quebec names, and not just because they're in French - i.e., even if Anglicized, they would sound Québécois in origin.
Typically Canadian first names... more than in the US you find Scottish names, e.g., Ian, Gavin, Malcolm, Gordon, Duncan, Alexander, David. It's not that they're unknown in the US, by a long shot, just more common in Canada, given a proportionally, historically larger immigration to Canada. I think that it's less pronounced amongst women's names, but I've never run across an American Morag or Isobel.
I was surprised to look up and find that "Harper" was a popular baby name in Sask. My association is rather negative to this name. Perhaps "Moe", "Ford", Kenney", "Pallister" are future possibilities (surnames of some current premiers). Mulroney and Trudeau do not seem contenders. For Americans, will babies be first-named "Trump" in the future? Not sure Biden goes well, nor Bush, Nixon, Eisenhower.
Certainly, with Quebecois names, more than in France, hyphenation is common with the first name. Jean-François, Jean-Marc, Marie-France, Marie-Anne, etc. Among First Nations, certain family names are common to certain regions. Cardinal, Scobie, Youngblood.
I was surprised to look up and find that "Harper" was a popular baby name in Sask. My association is rather negative to this name. Perhaps "Moe", "Ford", Kenney", "Pallister" are future possibilities (surnames of some current premiers). Mulroney and Trudeau do not seem contenders. For Americans, will babies be first-named "Trump" in the future? Not sure Biden goes well, nor Bush, Nixon, Eisenhower.
"Harper" has been used as a given name for a while (cf. Harper Lee), but entered the top 1000 in the US in 2004, rising rapidly in popularity over a handful of years. It was #9 in 2018. I'd venture to suggest that approximately none of the Americans who call their daughters "Harper" have heard of your ex-PM. I'd guess that it's use in Canada might be more correlated with the American use and less correlated with the politician.
I don't know of anything that correlates with the rise of Harper to popularity. David Beckham's daughter is Harper, but she's sufficiently young that she has to be an example of the popularity of the name, rather than a possible cause of the trend. There are a few other celebs with Harpers, but they're all too young to be anything more than part of the bandwagon. The same goes for the publication of "Go Set a Watchman" that brought Harper Lee out of the classrooms and in to the news - it's too late to be a possible trigger.
I heard the Gooey story a long while back, while my mother was still teaching. She was told it by her head, though possibly not from personal experience. But more recently I have found similar mistakes among a certain level of society, but have fortunately, perhaps, forgotten them. (Though not all the Aarons pronounced Arran. I finally had to check with someone Jewish that I had not been doing it wrong all my life. I gather Elvis had something to do with this.)
In contrast to the people who have not heard a name they like but have not the education to recognise it, I would cite an incident on TV of a writer at a signing, approached by a very posh lady who wanted the book addressed to her son, Gawn. The writer asked how to spell it. She was scornful of his ignorance of a very well known name, long used in her family, and simply repeated Gawn, with exclamation marks, Gawn! In extremely RP pronunciation, so as not to be confused with Eliza Doolittle. Finally she gave way, and spelled out Gawaine.
Typically Canadian first names... more than in the US you find Scottish names, e.g., Ian, Gavin, Malcolm, Gordon, Duncan, Alexander, David. It's not that they're unknown in the US, by a long shot, just more common in Canada, given a proportionally, historically larger immigration to Canada. I think that it's less pronounced amongst women's names, but I've never run across an American Morag or Isobel.
Interesting. Those sound neither specifically Canadian nor North American to me. Over here, the boys' names listed are widespread, but some of them are slightly Scots, particularly probably Gavin, Duncan and Alexander. David is widespread everywhere but is regarded as as much Welsh as biblical. Morag is definitely Scots, but not rare. Isobel is one of several spellings of a normal and widespread girls' name. It gets shortened to Izzie, Bella or Bell.
I would pronounce Gawaine with two syllables as spelt, and Aaron 'Airǝn' but one does hear these days 'Arrǝn' with a short 'a'. Mind, I'm old enough to remember that Sharon used to be 'Shairǝn' but it now is usually 'Sharrǝn', often shortened to Shazza.
Typically Canadian first names... more than in the US you find Scottish names, e.g., Ian, Gavin, Malcolm, Gordon, Duncan, Alexander, David. It's not that they're unknown in the US, by a long shot, just more common in Canada, given a proportionally, historically larger immigration to Canada.
I’m not sure I’d include David in the list as more popular in Canada than the US. David is traditionally in the top 25 of most common boys names in the US; until recently it was a mainstay in the top 10. As far as that goes, Alexander has been in the top 20 over the last decade.
On the other hand, I’ve never met a Gavin that I can recall.
The law profession in Ontario has not one but two Gavin McKenzies. One was head of the Ontario bar for some years; if memory serves the other one had something like “not that Gavin McKenzie” in small print somewhere on his letterhead.
It did occur to me to wonder if we had more Scottish-sounding names in Canada than in the US. Anecdotally, when I was living in the southern US, a surprising number of people had no idea how to pronounce my name (which is somewhat Scottish-sounding despite my lack of any identifiable Scots ancestry).
Anecdotally, when I was living in the southern US, a surprising number of people had no idea how to pronounce my name (which is somewhat Scottish-sounding despite my lack of any identifiable Scots ancestry).
I dunno Marsupial, your name sounds more Australian to me.
Strangely Kevin and Gavin are pretty well homophones here in the Netherlands.
Mr F claims to have met someone in the States who, on hearing he came from Scotland, said 'I have a Scottish surname. Mace-one.' It was a while before he twigged 'MacEwan'
Anecdotally, when I was living in the southern US, a surprising number of people had no idea how to pronounce my name (which is somewhat Scottish-sounding despite my lack of any identifiable Scots ancestry).
I dunno Marsupial, your name sounds more Australian to me.
Strangely Kevin and Gavin are pretty well homophones here in the Netherlands.
It did occur to me that both my ship name and my real name are a bit misleading as to my origins. Though I do have at least some recent ancestry traceable back to the north of England which is at least somewhere close by.
In these days when we on the cold and wet side of the Pond are ceaselessly amazed at the latest events in US politics, we have a constant stream of US politics, commentators, and academics being interviewed on our news programmes. I never cease to be struck by their formal courtesy, they always sign off with 'Thank you for having me on your programme' or words tothat effect, no matter how much rough handling they have received. 'Thank you for having me', is what well-brought-up Brisitish children were taught to say when thanking their hosts on leaving a party up to, say, 1950 or 60.
I've noticed in BBC interviews there are almost no interview start greetings, like "good morning", and even less frequently interview ending words, like even "thanks". It's just hang-up. But this is probably embedded in a larger cultural and population density context. When we go walking, everyone says hello, good morning etc. We're likely to meet from zero to maybe 15 people in a hour of walking in the city. In some non-city areas, everyone waves at everyone: drivers to drivers, pedestrians and drivers to each other, and the walkers will talk more to each other. When there's hardly any people, it's normal.
'Thank you for having me', is what well-brought-up Brisitish children were taught to say when thanking their hosts on leaving a party up to, say, 1950 or 60.
I think I remember being taught that in the 1970s.
I never cease to be struck by their formal courtesy, they always sign off with 'Thank you for having me on your programme' or words to that effect, no matter how much rough handling they have received. 'Thank you for having me', is what well-brought-up Brisitish children were taught to say when thanking their hosts on leaving a party up to, say, 1950 or 60.
I remember a cartoon*, late 60's/early 70's of. couple leaving a sex party. The woman, obviously brought up properly, says to the host "And thank you for having me".
Yes, I've noticed that too. Americans still say 'Sir,' and even 'ma'am' during interviews too.
I never really understood the Australian reputation for informality until I went overseas, and particularly when I first visited the USA. The interactions at a hotel or restaurant... oh right, okay, we are seriously informal if this is your measure.
In these days when we on the cold and wet side of the Pond are ceaselessly amazed at the latest events in US politics, we have a constant stream of US politics, commentators, and academics being interviewed on our news programmes. I never cease to be struck by their formal courtesy, they always sign off with 'Thank you for having me on your programme' or words tothat effect, no matter how much rough handling they have received. 'Thank you for having me', is what well-brought-up Brisitish children were taught to say when thanking their hosts on leaving a party up to, say, 1950 or 60.
You comfort my soul.
We have so much else to be ashamed about, that I am glad to hear these folks haven't forgot what their mamas taught them.
Regional variations. Absolutely. Here first names almost universal. Including children to adults. I go to some other provinces and to larger cities, it's not first names. Would you call your physician, dentist, univ professor by first name? These are the most formally addressed people here.
--On NPR (similar to the BBC), it's common for guests to end with "thanks for having me". But there are variations. Once, a young(ish) country music star said she was truly honored to be there--and, by her voice, she truly felt she was.
--As to calling people (particularly licensed professionals) by their first names: As an adult, I've been on a first-name basis with most everyone. Occasionally, I've had bosses that no one called by first name, and who seemed not to want it. Switching usage took some work.
I've been on a first-name basis with some doctors--I asked, and they actually preferred it. Usually first names with nurse practitioners and physician assistants--and IME, they're often better doctors than actual MDs. Haven't with fully-licensed dentists; but have with residents and students and hygienists.
--Interesting re formal names: sometimes, legal dramas use them a LOT. Like "The Good Wife". Clients are always addressed formally, and the lawyers often are. I'm soooo over the forced / false / thoughtless intimacy of relentless social media. (And I'm not even on it! Just going by the news, and by the spillover effect everywhere. And: Hey, people? PLEASE put your clothes on, button them up, etc. We don't have to see everything. Save it --and your photos--for your SO. Thx.) Maybe it's a search for real intimacy?
Anyway, I've found the formal name usage a quiet relief.
--As to calling people (particularly licensed professionals) by their first names: As an adult, I've been on a first-name basis with most everyone. Occasionally, I've had bosses that no one called by first name, and who seemed not to want it. Switching usage took some work.
I've been on a first-name basis with my colleagues forever. But that seems right and proper - we are colleagues, collaborators towards a shared endeavour, even if there's a significant difference in seniority between us.
I still get irritated when I am addressed by my given name by random salespeople, because that presumes a relationship that does not exist. It's particularly irritating when I buy something in a shop, and the shop worker reads my name off my credit card and addresses me by it. We don't have a personal relationship - we don't need to address each other by name.
Similarly, I would never presume to address a shop assistant by name, even though they're wearing a nametag that says "Denise" or "Marcus" or whatever. I will, if necessary, use it to refer to them ("Your colleague Marcus sent me over here for ..."). The same goes for waiters. They all have a script: "Hello, my name is Kyle and I'll be your server today", but I don't see that that grants me license to address them as Kyle.
(In reply to @NOprophet_NØprofit, IME, undergraduates always address lecturers as "Professor X" or "Dr X", whereas doctoral students are colleagues and are usually on a given name basis. I don't see my personal doctor often enough to call him anything - I don't think I've ever actually seen the same doctor twice, because the next time I've been sick, the one I saw the last time has moved away. )
We discuss in my province that the degree of separation between most of us is maximally two people, e.g., I know someone who's mentioned your cousin. It is really interesting to have this discussion with newcomers (we are moving away from using the term "immigrant" as it tends to be used more for visible minority people). The usual is something about what their kids are doing or where they work, and then it's "do you know <Name> who goes/works/used to work there". It is is probably off-putting for some.
The usual is something about what their kids are doing or where they work, and then it's "do you know <Name> who goes/works/used to work there". It is is probably off-putting for some.
Basically, you're telling me that Saskatoon is a village?
No, but our relatively small cities were basically towns when I was young, and the people living in them now came from mostly farming communities. In 1970, the population was about 70,000. Today just under 300,000. The second largest city is about 50K less. After than there's nothing with more than 35,000. The population of the province is about the same as it was in 1930, just over 1 million people.
I've been reading a book by an American author. Whenever a disaster happens she refers to the "looky-loos" who gather round. It's clear what she means, but it's a new term to me, and one I don't warm to.
However, I can't think what the British version would be. The only phrase that comes to mind is "sticky beaks", and that's specifically Manx.
On the interview thing, by and large I would say that there are more 'thank yous' and politeness on UK radio interviews than on TV ones, and more politeness on regional radio interviews than national ones.
It does vary from programme to programme and according to subject matter. You'll find a greater level of politeness, for instance, if the BBC are interviewing Mrs Sproggett from the Little Fartington Indoor Bowling League, for instance, whose canary has learned to whistle the theme tune to The Archers, than you would if they were interviewing a Cabinet minister.
There's also the thing about the kind of confrontational interview style adopted by the likes of Paxman on t'telly and Humphreys on t'radio, although Paxman has hung up his mic of course. You don't get that so much outside of political or current affairs programmes like Radio 4's Today, Newsnight or Andrew Mart's political programme on the telly.
It can also be the case that BBC journalists can be cloying oleaginous when interviewing royalty or in human interest stories of one form or other. It does vary.
I gave a short radio interview on regional radio this week and it was all very polite.
The population of this area, our nearest city and surrounding towns and villages, would be similar to that of Saskatoon. The big differences, of course, would be the density, the distances between settlements, the lack of prairie and the climate.
There will be cultural differences, too, of course.
Some forms of North American politeness can strike us as very corporate, false and forced - 'Have a nice day ...', 'Missing you already ...' and I'm sure we aren't alone in that. However, there are levels of politeness and formality in some forms of US (and Canadian?) social interaction which feel very genuine and attractive.
As a broad rule of thumb, I would suggest that we are somewhere in between the US and Australia as far as the formality / informality spectrum goes, but with regional variations within the UK itself. I am sure there are significant regional differences in levels of formality across the US, Canada, Australia and other Anglophone (and in Canada's case Francophone too) countries.
"Corporate" in the sense of behavior in companies, or something everyone does?
Not everyone uses "Have a nice day", and some think it's as you said or maybe "twee" (if I understand that word). But it can simply be a little bit of friendliness and "I see you as a person", even if it's only for a few seconds.
I'm not familiar with "Missing you already" as anything common. ISTM I've rarely heard it, and that was probably on TV. Maybe a regional (New York City?) difference, or generational.
BTW, have you seen "Crocodile Dundee I"? There are a few funny moments about "Have a nice day".
'Lonely' or 'Lonesome'? Brits as far as I know only use 'lonely', except when singing 'How much is that doggie in the window?' (ugh!) or 'In the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia'. Is 'lonesome' universally used in the States, or are there regional variations?
We discuss in my province that the degree of separation between most of us is maximally two people, e.g., I know someone who's mentioned your cousin. It is really interesting to have this discussion with newcomers (we are moving away from using the term "immigrant" as it tends to be used more for visible minority people). The usual is something about what their kids are doing or where they work, and then it's "do you know <Name> who goes/works/used to work there". It is is probably off-putting for some.
It will not surprise you to learn that Newfoundland is that way too. It's not quite as extreme as the 22 Minutes TV show satire of PEI ("PEI-witness News," where the running joke is that ever person mentioned as well as ever reporter is surnamed Gallant) but I'd be surprised if there's more than two degrees of separation between any two Newfoundlanders chosen at random.
Golden Key - yes, I appreciate that not all Americans go round saying 'Have a nice day' all the time. I meant corporate in the commercial sense, companies insisting that their employees say this stuff.
I think 'trite' is a more appropriate term than 'twee' in this context.
I don't doubt that it can be said with sincerity, though and think that when that is the case it's a lot better than the kind of sullen grunt from resentful employees that used to be quite common here - and with good reason the way some employers treat their staff and the way some customers behave.
That's another issue.
I remember people who'd visited the US in the early '90s cringing at 'Missing you already.' It may well have been a New York thing or some other regional thing.
I've only been to the US once, to New York and Newark. Other than in the hotel - 'How can I help the next customer?' - I didn't encounter any formulaic corporate-speak in cafes, bars or museums. I had a number of decent conversations, including one with a guy in the place where you leave your bags in The Metropolitan Museum. He recognised my accent as his mum (Mom) had recently married a fella from my home town.
Comments
Is 'quine' a general Scots word? From my position of comparative ignorance (south-of-England-dweller with Scottish family connections on one side) I'd always had the impression that it was specifically north-eastern.
I think its use in everyday speech is confined to the north east. I've seen it written (sometimes as "quyean") more generally. McDiarmid used "quean" in A Drunk Man Looks at the Thistle.
I loved Harpies and Quines.
I was at a conference last year, and a fresh-faced twenty-something PhD student gave a paper on it. I had that sinking feeling you get when you realise that aspects of your life are now studied as History.
I suspect they had heard the name on TV and had no idea how to spell it. In the same sort of way as the young mum who brought her son to school, and said his name was, "Gooey". She'd got it out of a book, and it was spelt G U Y.
Yep. Danish "kvinde", Swedish "kvinna".
I can't think of anything else in English either, outside the First Nations context.
I have think there's probably a better case for distinctiveness in Quebec names, and not just because they're in French - i.e., even if Anglicized, they would sound Québécois in origin.
"Harper" has been used as a given name for a while (cf. Harper Lee), but entered the top 1000 in the US in 2004, rising rapidly in popularity over a handful of years. It was #9 in 2018. I'd venture to suggest that approximately none of the Americans who call their daughters "Harper" have heard of your ex-PM. I'd guess that it's use in Canada might be more correlated with the American use and less correlated with the politician.
In contrast to the people who have not heard a name they like but have not the education to recognise it, I would cite an incident on TV of a writer at a signing, approached by a very posh lady who wanted the book addressed to her son, Gawn. The writer asked how to spell it. She was scornful of his ignorance of a very well known name, long used in her family, and simply repeated Gawn, with exclamation marks, Gawn! In extremely RP pronunciation, so as not to be confused with Eliza Doolittle. Finally she gave way, and spelled out Gawaine.
I would pronounce Gawaine with two syllables as spelt, and Aaron 'Airǝn' but one does hear these days 'Arrǝn' with a short 'a'. Mind, I'm old enough to remember that Sharon used to be 'Shairǝn' but it now is usually 'Sharrǝn', often shortened to Shazza.
On the other hand, I’ve never met a Gavin that I can recall.
I went to school with 2.
It did occur to me to wonder if we had more Scottish-sounding names in Canada than in the US. Anecdotally, when I was living in the southern US, a surprising number of people had no idea how to pronounce my name (which is somewhat Scottish-sounding despite my lack of any identifiable Scots ancestry).
I dunno Marsupial, your name sounds more Australian to me.
Strangely Kevin and Gavin are pretty well homophones here in the Netherlands.
It did occur to me that both my ship name and my real name are a bit misleading as to my origins. Though I do have at least some recent ancestry traceable back to the north of England which is at least somewhere close by.
I'm aware.
I think I remember being taught that in the 1970s.
I remember a cartoon*, late 60's/early 70's of. couple leaving a sex party. The woman, obviously brought up properly, says to the host "And thank you for having me".
*I think it was Punch
I never really understood the Australian reputation for informality until I went overseas, and particularly when I first visited the USA. The interactions at a hotel or restaurant... oh right, okay, we are seriously informal if this is your measure.
You comfort my soul.
We have so much else to be ashamed about, that I am glad to hear these folks haven't forgot what their mamas taught them.
--As to calling people (particularly licensed professionals) by their first names: As an adult, I've been on a first-name basis with most everyone. Occasionally, I've had bosses that no one called by first name, and who seemed not to want it. Switching usage took some work.
I've been on a first-name basis with some doctors--I asked, and they actually preferred it. Usually first names with nurse practitioners and physician assistants--and IME, they're often better doctors than actual MDs. Haven't with fully-licensed dentists; but have with residents and students and hygienists.
--Interesting re formal names: sometimes, legal dramas use them a LOT. Like "The Good Wife". Clients are always addressed formally, and the lawyers often are. I'm soooo over the forced / false / thoughtless intimacy of relentless social media. (And I'm not even on it! Just going by the news, and by the spillover effect everywhere. And: Hey, people? PLEASE put your clothes on, button them up, etc. We don't have to see everything. Save it --and your photos--for your SO. Thx.) Maybe it's a search for real intimacy?
Anyway, I've found the formal name usage a quiet relief.
I've been on a first-name basis with my colleagues forever. But that seems right and proper - we are colleagues, collaborators towards a shared endeavour, even if there's a significant difference in seniority between us.
I still get irritated when I am addressed by my given name by random salespeople, because that presumes a relationship that does not exist. It's particularly irritating when I buy something in a shop, and the shop worker reads my name off my credit card and addresses me by it. We don't have a personal relationship - we don't need to address each other by name.
Similarly, I would never presume to address a shop assistant by name, even though they're wearing a nametag that says "Denise" or "Marcus" or whatever. I will, if necessary, use it to refer to them ("Your colleague Marcus sent me over here for ..."). The same goes for waiters. They all have a script: "Hello, my name is Kyle and I'll be your server today", but I don't see that that grants me license to address them as Kyle.
(In reply to @NOprophet_NØprofit, IME, undergraduates always address lecturers as "Professor X" or "Dr X", whereas doctoral students are colleagues and are usually on a given name basis. I don't see my personal doctor often enough to call him anything - I don't think I've ever actually seen the same doctor twice, because the next time I've been sick, the one I saw the last time has moved away. )
Basically, you're telling me that Saskatoon is a village?
However, I can't think what the British version would be. The only phrase that comes to mind is "sticky beaks", and that's specifically Manx.
Rubberneck is also American, but has seen use in Britain.
It does vary from programme to programme and according to subject matter. You'll find a greater level of politeness, for instance, if the BBC are interviewing Mrs Sproggett from the Little Fartington Indoor Bowling League, for instance, whose canary has learned to whistle the theme tune to The Archers, than you would if they were interviewing a Cabinet minister.
There's also the thing about the kind of confrontational interview style adopted by the likes of Paxman on t'telly and Humphreys on t'radio, although Paxman has hung up his mic of course. You don't get that so much outside of political or current affairs programmes like Radio 4's Today, Newsnight or Andrew Mart's political programme on the telly.
It can also be the case that BBC journalists can be cloying oleaginous when interviewing royalty or in human interest stories of one form or other. It does vary.
I gave a short radio interview on regional radio this week and it was all very polite.
The population of this area, our nearest city and surrounding towns and villages, would be similar to that of Saskatoon. The big differences, of course, would be the density, the distances between settlements, the lack of prairie and the climate.
There will be cultural differences, too, of course.
Some forms of North American politeness can strike us as very corporate, false and forced - 'Have a nice day ...', 'Missing you already ...' and I'm sure we aren't alone in that. However, there are levels of politeness and formality in some forms of US (and Canadian?) social interaction which feel very genuine and attractive.
As a broad rule of thumb, I would suggest that we are somewhere in between the US and Australia as far as the formality / informality spectrum goes, but with regional variations within the UK itself. I am sure there are significant regional differences in levels of formality across the US, Canada, Australia and other Anglophone (and in Canada's case Francophone too) countries.
"Corporate" in the sense of behavior in companies, or something everyone does?
Not everyone uses "Have a nice day", and some think it's as you said or maybe "twee" (if I understand that word). But it can simply be a little bit of friendliness and "I see you as a person", even if it's only for a few seconds.
I'm not familiar with "Missing you already" as anything common. ISTM I've rarely heard it, and that was probably on TV. Maybe a regional (New York City?) difference, or generational.
BTW, have you seen "Crocodile Dundee I"? There are a few funny moments about "Have a nice day".
It will not surprise you to learn that Newfoundland is that way too. It's not quite as extreme as the 22 Minutes TV show satire of PEI ("PEI-witness News," where the running joke is that ever person mentioned as well as ever reporter is surnamed Gallant) but I'd be surprised if there's more than two degrees of separation between any two Newfoundlanders chosen at random.
I think 'trite' is a more appropriate term than 'twee' in this context.
I don't doubt that it can be said with sincerity, though and think that when that is the case it's a lot better than the kind of sullen grunt from resentful employees that used to be quite common here - and with good reason the way some employers treat their staff and the way some customers behave.
That's another issue.
I remember people who'd visited the US in the early '90s cringing at 'Missing you already.' It may well have been a New York thing or some other regional thing.
I've only been to the US once, to New York and Newark. Other than in the hotel - 'How can I help the next customer?' - I didn't encounter any formulaic corporate-speak in cafes, bars or museums. I had a number of decent conversations, including one with a guy in the place where you leave your bags in The Metropolitan Museum. He recognised my accent as his mum (Mom) had recently married a fella from my home town.