Jan 26: A Bit Brisk, Eh?

I heard this morning that a stretch of the canal is open for skating. I can't say I'm surprised because it has been cold for the past day or two. weather.ca says that the current temperature is -21C, but with wind-chill feels like -31!

As someone pointed out - 'not so keen on going ice skating now, eh?'. In fact, you really have to reconsider your own nicotine addiction in these circumstances!

I like the 'eh' at the end of sentences, by the way, it's very Scottish.

Posted by Doug Burns Comments: (9) Trackbacks: (0)

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#1 - Roger 2007-01-26 14:10 - (Reply)

Here's an ugly little Google Gadget I made if you want to keep track of the skating conditions on the Rideau Canal.
http://rpilkey.googlepages.com/rideaucanalskatingconditionsgadget

Welcome to Ottawa!

Roger

#2 - Robert V said:
2007-01-26 17:56 - (Reply)

"eh" is a very handy phrase. With it, you can turn any statement into a question. It's very handy: you don't have to decide whether something is going to be a statement or a question until after you've said it. That's very handy (, eh?)

That's why Alex Trebek, the Canadian-born host of Jeopardy, insists that every response be in the form of a question. But the silly Americans haven't figured out that they could just tack an "eh" onto the end and they'd be fine.

"Eiffel Tower, eh?"

#2.1 - Dave Edwards said:
2007-01-26 19:48 - (Reply)

Robert is onto something. It's not that saying "eh" is unique to Canadians (it's part of the language in other English-speaking countries), but that Canadians use it in a unique way.

The general use of "eh" is to reinforce a rhetorical question. "Not so keen on going ice skating now, eh?" = "Not so keen on going ice skating now, are you?"; the answer is understood.

The Canadian flavour of "eh" is to append it to straight-forward questions: "What time is it, eh?"; or even onto plain old statements: "It's gonna rain, eh."

N.B.: not all Canadians use "eh" this way. Probably *most* do not, and many of those who do not probably look down on the usage as a ruralism, or a "hoserism".

#2.1.1 - Doug Burns said:
2007-01-26 19:57 - (Reply)

Ah, but you see, that's how Scots use it, too!

Well, we use it in all sorts of ways, in fact.

Ironically enough, one of my Canadian colleagues in Saudi Arabia made a reasonable claim that I only ever spoke in vowels, with no need for consonants.

Eh, Aye, Oh, You

He had a point. I don't say 'Eee' a lot though, but Yorkshiremen have that one covered!

#2.1.1.1 - Niall Litchfield said:
2007-01-27 04:15 - (Reply)

eh?

#2.1.1.2 - Dave Edwards said:
2007-01-27 12:53 - (Reply)

Okay, so maybe "unique" was not the right word.

It adds up though, given that the Scottish influence is very strong in Canada. Hoot mon ;-) , our first prime minister was named "MacDonald", and he was from Glasgow.

As for "ee", you can hear that standing in for "eh" sounds in broader Canadian accents: "Aboat Toozdee, I'm awee then, ee?"

#2.1.1.2.1 - Doug Burns said:
2007-01-27 21:53 - (Reply)

given that the Scottish influence is very strong in Canada.

I agree. Check the Ottawa street names out. Did someone just pick up a map of Scotland and a pin?

#3 - Howard Rogers said:
2007-01-27 21:49 - (Reply)

Funnily enough, "eh" at the end of a sentence is very Queensland, too. Whereas we New South Welshman are renowned for our "buts". As it were.

#3.1 - Doug Burns said:
2007-01-27 21:51 - (Reply)

We do them all. In fact, now that I think about it, I think all we have is the punctuating words and the vowel sounds and no real words at all! 'By the way's left right and centre, I tell you.


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