Eh?

I received a phone call yesterday from a Toronto recruiter. He was looking for someone with very specific experience to fill a position for a client. After first listening to him, and then explaining that did I not have the experience he was looking for nor was I looking for a position in Toronto, he asks me, "Do you know anyone who has experience in (lists what he is looking for) ?" The thing I found amusing is how he ended about every other statement or question with "eh?"

Prior to moving to Canada, my only experience with the phrase "eh?" was with Bob & Doug McKenzie and their skits on Saturday Night Live. I always assumed it was an exaggeration, but moving to Canada has, among other things, shown me how little I really know. The phrase "eh?" is very popular. "Eh?" knows no bounds; it is used by everyone regardless of their educational background, socioeconomic, geographical, or political affiliations. The only person I haven't heard use this phrase is the The Kid. He has escaped this influence, thankfully.

I was talking to my husband about something inconsequential one day. I asked him, "What do you think about that, eh?" As soon as the word exited my mouth, all I could do was cover my mouth with my hands in hopes of preventing another one from slipping out. He immediately turned to me and with a huge grin. He laughs and says, "That was a real one. You said it and it wasn't a joke so don't try to say it was!" I felt like I had sinned against nature. I immediately entered my bedroom, closed the door, and atoned for my sins with self mortification by flogging. (Ok, not really, but I haven't said "eh?" since.)

It is quite obvious that some people are having a tough time understanding Canadians, so the following will run through a very brief translation of the Canadian 'dialect' and hopefully ease some minds out there. "Eh" is a useful word that is very important and is the basis of all Canadian communications. It is used in conjunction with other words, or simply by itself. The tone or the slight differences in exclamation also changes the meaning:

Eh? = what did you say?
Eh? = what do you think?
EH? = something to say just to end a sentence.
Ehhhh!! = WOW!!
EH!? = what do you mean?
Eh?? = your joking!!!??
EH!! = Hello..(you off in the distance!!!)
Eh? want a doughnut or some Tim Bits?
Eh! = sure!!
Eh!Eh! = coffee double-cream too please!
Eh? = what you say when you realize you have no money to pay for it.
Eh..cmon, eh? = asking them to let you pay for it next time.
hey..eh! = want to go to the drive-in movie??
Eh...uhuh = yes sure!
Eh..y'know = I'll pick you up at 8:00 (8:30 in Newfoundland).
Eh..cmon!! = well that's early..but ok.
Eh..wanna? eh? = lets fool around ...
EHHHHHHH = sounds coming from the car.
hey..um..er eh... = I'm pregnant!
EH????????? = how did that happen?
EHHehhEHHehhEHHH = sounds from the delivery room.
EHHH-ehh, EHHH-ehh = baby's first cry.
Ehh..whadya think eh? = marry me.



So, now you too, Dear Reader, can use "Eh?" properly. Just don't do it around me.