I got a two-four, eh? Yoffi! (The Great Canadian Shibboleth!)

[Interrobang]

Whilst chatting via ICQ with my Israeli friend (at home near Tel Aviv) tonight, I found out that Canadian and Israeli slang have something funny in common: "Beauty!"

"Beauty!" ("Yoffi!" in Hebrew) as an interjection is not something I say very often, but still...

I find this intensely and intrinsically hilarious. When he translated it, I just about fell out of my chair, and it didn't help when he replied, a couple comments later:

"Is this exchange possible in Canada?

'I'm getting divorced tomorrow.'
'Beauty! We can have sex!'"

(I told him that I was beginning to think that Israel was one of the Ten Lost Tribes of Canada.)

Apparently, Israelis say "eh?" too, just not exactly the same ways Canadians do. So I can't wait until I can say something in Hebrew like, "Let's go to the beach, eh, it's not far," in Hebrew, just to mess him up. *That* usage of "eh" is uniquely Canadian, so it doesn't translate, but the Great Canadian Shibboleth is all-powerful! I shall spread those affirmation-seeking "eh?"s throughout the world!! MUA-ha-ha-ha!!

Yoffi, eh?

[CHIMO]

1. Well

You know, when did eh become common in Canada? Who knows?
For all one knows it may have paralleled a speech pattern from somewhere else, like maybe in Manhattan?
Who knows?

[Interrobang]

2. See "Talking Canadian" on the CBC...

And I think Thomas Paikeday had something to say about it. The Oxford Canadian dictionary lists the "affirmative" usage of "eh" as uniquely Canadian, also. There's enough research out there that you could probably trace it if you were willing to chase footnotes!

[Screaming Lord Byron]

3. Other cultures have similar linguistic tics.

I imagine we translated it from the original French settlers, or perhaps the Scots, among whom 'eh' is also used.

[Interrobang]

4. Well, as I said...

There's only one usage of "eh" that is uniquely Canadian. There are several different usages of "eh" around.

According to my Canadian Oxford Dictionary (first ed.):

eh /ei/, interj. informal 1. Inviting assent (nice day, eh?), 2. Cdn. Ascertaining the comprehension, continued interest, agreement, etc. of the person or persons addressed (it's way out in the suburbs, eh, so I can't get there by bike). This is the only usage of eh that can be categorized as peculiarly Canadian, all other uses being common amongst speakers in other Commonwealth countries and to a lesser extent in the United States . 3. Expressing inquiry or surprise. 4. Asking for something to be repeated or explained.

** bolded emphasis mine, from "This is" ... "United States." :)

So, I stand by the classification of the second sense of "eh" as the Great Canadian Shibboleth.

I'm also pretty sure that "beauty!" as in interjection -- which was the *real* subject of this post -- is natively Canadian, although I think it's drifted a bit, probably because of Bob and Doug. :)

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. "Beauty!" may be Canadian

(though I can't say I've noticed it when I've been there), but "Beaut!" is very Australian - indeed, it's Strine.

[iverglas]

6. I've never said it myself, but ...

A Canadian is walking down the street with a case of beer under his arm.

His friend Doug stops him and asks, "Hey Bob! Whatcha get the case of beer for?"

"I got it for my wife, eh." answers Bob.

"Beauty!" exclaims Doug, "Good trade."



Australian jokes about Canada, a very particular class. True story:

The new Australian High Commissioner to Canada (note for USAmericans: members of the Commonwealth send High Commissioners rather than Ambassadors to each other) was planning a party to celebrate his new posting. He'd brought a few cases of his favourite Australian beer with him for the occasion. He stored the beer in his garage. It froze and all the bottles broke.

He remarked that Canada was the only place he knew where you put your beer in the fridge to keep it warm.