The purpose of this paper is to give an overview on the discourse particle eh, which is frequently used on Guernsey and in Canada: How come, that the same particle occurs on the Channel Islands and in Canada? Where did it originate from? And what does Columbus mean when she says “discourse particles [like eh…] signal attitudes and beliefs to their interlocutors beyond the base utterance” (Columbus 2009:401)? Which kind of attitudes does she refer to? Or how can one little word have different covert meanings? And finally, how exactly does eh on Guernsey differ from eh on Canada?
These questions have occupied researchers since this little word came into focus. Especially during the last 35 years there has arisen a remarkably high interest in examining eh – its history, its presence in today’s use of language and its future. Strikingly, there can be found a lot of works referring to eh in Canada, but only two researchers have (successfully) committed themselves to exploring eh on Guernsey. This situation might as well hint at the fact, that many people, the majority is probably of Canadian origin, claim eh as a Canadianism, without admitting, or knowing, that it is also present in other English-speaking varieties.
The next part of this paper is therefore concerned with the origin of eh, whether it can be called a Canadianism or not and where it is used apart from Canada and Guernsey.
The third part is dedicated to the eh used on Guernsey: Chapter 1 names its most important pragmatic functions, before they are evaluated in Chapter 2 in form of a case study. Part 4 consequently deals with the Canadian version of eh whose, pragmatic functions are outlined in Chapter 1, and Chapter 2 provides a case study as well. According to the data collected so far, part 5 compares the pragmatic functions of Guernsey and Canadian eh and draws final conclusions concerning its origin and attitudes towards eh.
Part 6 concludes this paper by giving a short outlook on the future of eh.
Table of contents
I. Introduction
II. The origin of eh
III. eh on Guernsey
1. Syntactic and pragmatic functions of eh
2. A case study by Pauline Barbé
IV. eh in Canada
1. Pragmatic functions of eh
2. A case study by Kathrin Vogler
V. eh on Guernsey versus eh in Canada
VI. Outlook
Research Objectives and Core Themes
The primary objective of this paper is to conduct a comparative analysis of the discourse particle "eh" as it is utilized in Guernsey and Canada. By exploring the origins of the particle and its distinct pragmatic functions in both regions, the study seeks to determine whether "eh" can be classified as a unique Canadianism or if it represents a more universal English discourse marker. Furthermore, the paper examines how sociolinguistic factors and local identities influence its usage across different age groups and genders.
- Comparative analysis of "eh" usage in Guernsey English and Canadian English.
- Evaluation of the pragmatic functions of the particle in varying syntactic contexts.
- Examination of sociolinguistic drivers, including local identity and gender-based usage patterns.
- Critical review of existing literature and case studies regarding "eh" as a Canadianism.
- Assessment of the future trajectory and social perception of the particle.
Excerpt from the Book
1. Syntactic and pragmatic functions of eh
According to Barbé eh is generally used in three main syntactic contexts and therefore serves three syntactic purposes.
Used after exclamatory or interrogative statements eh functions as a question mark or as a question mark plus exclamation mark as the following example reveals:
G.E.: what about old Celia then eh
S.E.: what about old Celia then? or what about old Celia then?!
More often eh appears at the end of a declarative sentence, where another canonical or invariant tag could be used as well, for example:
G.E.: well first you’ve got to get over here eh
S.E.: well first you’ve got to get over here, haven’t you?
or: well first you’ve got to get over here, right?
Summary of Chapters
I. Introduction: This chapter introduces the research focus on the discourse particle "eh," outlining its usage on Guernsey and in Canada, and defines the scope of the comparative study.
II. The origin of eh: This section investigates the historical roots of "eh" and addresses the common perception of the particle as a definitive Canadianism versus its presence in other English-speaking varieties.
III. eh on Guernsey: This chapter analyzes the syntactic and pragmatic functions of "eh" on the Channel Islands and presents a specific case study conducted by Pauline Barbé.
IV. eh in Canada: This part details the pragmatic functions of "eh" in Canadian discourse and provides a new case study based on the International Corpus of Canadian English (ICE).
V. eh on Guernsey versus eh in Canada: A comparative synthesis that identifies differences in historical usage, pragmatic variety, and the role of "eh" in constructing local identity in both regions.
VI. Outlook: The final chapter discusses the future of "eh" in Canadian and Guernsey English, arguing that it remains a firmly established and meaningful feature of both communities.
Keywords
eh, discourse particle, Guernsey English, Canadian English, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, Canadianism, identity markers, syntactic functions, case study, linguistic variation, interjections, speech community, narrative-eh, language contact.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core subject of this paper?
The paper focuses on the discourse particle "eh," examining its functional and social usage within two distinct English-speaking communities: Guernsey and Canada.
What are the central themes discussed in the work?
Key themes include the comparative pragmatics of "eh," the historical debate over whether the particle is a Canadianism, and the influence of local social and identity factors on its usage.
What is the primary research goal?
The primary goal is to provide a comprehensive overview and comparison of "eh" in Guernsey and Canada to determine why it appears in these specific locations and how its functions differ.
Which scientific methodology is utilized?
The study employs a literature-based review alongside quantitative case studies, specifically analyzing corpora of recorded speech to categorize and measure the frequency and function of "eh."
What topics are covered in the main body?
The main body covers the linguistic origin of "eh," detailed pragmatic analyses of its functions as a tag or phatic element, and sociolinguistic case studies focusing on gender and age groups.
Which keywords best characterize the study?
Important keywords include discourse particle, Guernsey English, Canadianism, pragmatics, sociolinguistics, and linguistic identity.
How do Guernsey men and women differ in their use of "eh"?
Barbé's study suggests that women use "eh" more frequently to facilitate conversation, whereas men may use it less to distance themselves from what they perceive as "feminine" speech patterns.
What is the significance of the "eh-index"?
The "eh-index" was invented by Pauline Barbé to quantify the frequency of the particle by dividing the number of occurrences by the total minutes of speech, allowing for a precise mapping of its everyday usage.
How does the usage of "narrative-eh" in Canada compare to expectations?
Contrary to some researchers' beliefs that "narrative-eh" is rare or stigmatized in urban settings, the case study in this paper found it to be the most frequent function of "eh" in the analyzed corpus.
- Quote paper
- Kathrin Vogler (Author), 2010, The discourse particle "eh" on Guernsey and in Canada, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.hausarbeiten.de/document/164589
