Eh? and Hein

Discourse Particles or National Icons

Bibliographic Data

ID20260366
AuthorsElaine Gold (0000-0002-4798-6036, University of Toronto), Mireille Tremblay (Queen's University)
Year2006
Volume51
Issue2-3
Pages247-263
Publication date2006-11-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueThe Canadian Journal of Linguistics / La revue canadienne de linguistique (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0008-4131 • E-ISSN: 1710-1115
PublisherCambridge University Press (CUP) (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1017/s0008413100004096
OpenAlexW4256539324
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited4

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