Sir, - Whatever became of that dedicated band of shop assistants who greeted customers with an encouraging "Can I help you?" or "Are you being served?"
Nowadays, at ever turn the cry is: "Are you OK?" Shop assistants, waitresses, bartenders, petrol-pump attendants, all use this bland Americanism. Is it something that blew in with the MacBurger or the Kentucky Fried Chicken, and then spread remorselessly to the entire retail trade?
In much the same way, the traditional "Goodbye and good luck" has given way to "Look after yourself", or "Mind how you go", or "Take care". (Take care of what?).
Such glib phrases fall effortlessly from the lips of RTE's disc jockey and phone-in presenters, and even television newsreaders (who should know better) now use them when signing off the evening bulletin. Where will it end?
As for the "Are you OK?" brigade, I suggest: "Can I get you something?" Better still, a smile and a raised eyebrow would do the trick. - Yours, etc.,
L.G. Smith, Shanganagh Vale, Loughlinstown, Dublin 18.