For some reason I never catch this in Canadian movies or shows, but everyone who has been to Canada says that Canadians tend to end sentences with this mysterious word, "eh".
It's my understanding that this mystery word doesn't actually mean anything in particular, but is used in a similar fashion as the Icelandic word "sko", which also doesn't happen to mean squat.
The usage is still slightly different. Whereas "eh" belongs in end of a sentence, "sko" can be used in many different ways because it doesn't really matter where you put it. The context of its pointlessness can be altered by its location in a sentence.
For example, you might be pretending to be trying to explain something if you begin a sentence with it but obviously you're not.
"Sko, it all boils down to math."
If the meaning wasn't a complete waste of time and space, that sentence would be translated to:
"You see, it all boils down to math."
But if you put it into the middle of a sentence, it gains its nominative status of complete uselessness.
"It all, sko, boils down to math."
"It all, [random sequence of letters], boils down to math."
When you put it in the end of a sentence, it's an obvious and futile attempt at looking smart.
"It all boils down to math, sko."
Translates to:
"It all boils down to math, and I'm pretending as if I've got more to say but really I'm expecting you to know all the things I'm pretending to know so that you don't expose my ignorance by asking any further questions."
And that concludes the Icelandic study of today.
Now, can someone please explain to me what the hell is up with that word, "eh"?
It's my understanding that this mystery word doesn't actually mean anything in particular, but is used in a similar fashion as the Icelandic word "sko", which also doesn't happen to mean squat.
The usage is still slightly different. Whereas "eh" belongs in end of a sentence, "sko" can be used in many different ways because it doesn't really matter where you put it. The context of its pointlessness can be altered by its location in a sentence.
For example, you might be pretending to be trying to explain something if you begin a sentence with it but obviously you're not.
"Sko, it all boils down to math."
If the meaning wasn't a complete waste of time and space, that sentence would be translated to:
"You see, it all boils down to math."
But if you put it into the middle of a sentence, it gains its nominative status of complete uselessness.
"It all, sko, boils down to math."
"It all, [random sequence of letters], boils down to math."
When you put it in the end of a sentence, it's an obvious and futile attempt at looking smart.
"It all boils down to math, sko."
Translates to:
"It all boils down to math, and I'm pretending as if I've got more to say but really I'm expecting you to know all the things I'm pretending to know so that you don't expose my ignorance by asking any further questions."
And that concludes the Icelandic study of today.
Now, can someone please explain to me what the hell is up with that word, "eh"?
.
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