Eh? and Hein

Discourse Particles or National Icons

Datos Bibliográficos

ID20260366
AutoresElaine Gold (0000-0002-4798-6036, University of Toronto), Mireille Tremblay (Queen's University)
Año2006
Volumen51
Número2-3
Páginas247-263
Fecha de publicación2006-11-01
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaThe Canadian Journal of Linguistics / La revue canadienne de linguistique (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 0008-4131 • E-ISSN: 1710-1115
EditorialCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0008413100004096
OpenAlexW4256539324
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas4
Referencias citadas4

We compare the use and function of two discourse particles that show many similarities: Canadian English eh and Canadian French hein . Surveys of anglophone students at the University of Toronto and francophone students at Université Laval reveal that these particles have similar discourse functions and that there are many parallels in their patterns of use. However, francophone students report a higher use of hein than do anglophone students of eh . Moreover, francophones have more positive attitudes towards constructions with hein than do their anglophone counterparts with respect to eh . In addition, eh —used both less often and valued less positively—has taken on additional functions as an identity marker: it is used to identify speakers of Canadian English and, in print, to evoke Canadian solidarity. In contrast, hein does not have an identity marking function. We propose that the development of an identity marking function for eh —and the lack of such a function for hein —reflects differences in how linguistic identities are constructed in English and French Canada

Aesthetics · French · Function (biology) · Identity (music) · Linguistics · Parallels · Political science · Sociology · Solidarity · Language, Discourse, Communication Strategies · Linguistic Variation and Morphology · Multilingual Education and Policy · Philosophy · Psychology