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yingwenlaoshi
Joined: 12 Feb 2007
Location: ... location, location!
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 Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 10:05 am Post subject: Re: Eh? |
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| Tater wrote: |
Eh?
It seems like a harmless little postscript to a sentence.
�That was the best beer ever, eh?�
�It's warm out, eh?�
But, have you ever thought about those two little letters and the question mark that follows them? My fiance is Canadian, and she periodically pops out the old �Eh?� when she needs a response from me. I've come to a conclusion about those two little letters.
To me, those two letters and the question mark show a distinct and inherent sense of insecurity. Before you Canadians jump on the hyper-national bandwagon and scream �hate, hate hate,� listen to my reasoning.
An Australian feel that the pizza he and you just shared was delicious. That Australian might say, �That pizza was great.� An American might say, �That pizza was insanely good.� A British person might say, �That pizza was outstanding.�
A Canadian might say, �That pizza was delicious, eh?�
Why add that syllable? To me, it shows that Canadians need someone else to agree with their opinion before they will rightly hold it as their own. It's as if it is instilled in their DNA to demand some sort of external validity for their own opinions.
Why is that? Why do Canadians need to make sure the person they are with feels the same as they do before they will make a simple statement without turning it into a question? Why can't Canadians be confident in their own opinions without needing others to feel the same way? �Eh?� is a vocalization of some internal subconscious insecurity that has spread throughout the entirety of the Great White North. Why is that? |
Anyway, we say "eh?" in New Brunswick. I, however, don't think it's overused. Not in my case. We sometimes also say "That what some good" instead of "That was really good."
But we do not say "aboot." That's just fkg ridiculous. This one American said to me "You said 'aboot'." I felt like punching him in the head for being a dik. |
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D.D.
Joined: 29 May 2008
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| Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2009 2:21 pm Post subject: |
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I am western Canada and never say eh. I do say " do you know what I mean" a lot.
When I lived in western Australia they used "but" on the end of their sentences.
I am going to the store but.
It's a nice day but.
I never quite understood the but thing.
Never hear many educated Canadians use the Eh thing. It was funny on S.C.T.V. |
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Jake.K
Joined: 17 Oct 2008
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| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 3:55 am Post subject: |
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I think it's more of a social thing.
Being firm in your opinion is swell but all we canadians are doing by saying 'eh' is reaching out to that other person.
Like laying a bridge. |
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Tater
Joined: 13 Oct 2008
Location: Korea
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| Posted: Tue Jan 13, 2009 4:05 am Post subject: |
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| Jake.K wrote: |
I think it's more of a social thing.
Being firm in your opinion is swell but all we canadians are doing by saying 'eh' is reaching out to that other person.
Like laying a bridge. |
Now that's interesting.
It's good to read some people that have insight instead of getting irate. |
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