Hey (interjection)

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Hey is an interjection usually used in the English language as a summonsing or attention-getting device.[1] It is usually marked with an exclamation point.[2] It is also one example of an interjection that speakers may use to express surprise.[3] Some, such as the American grammarian Goold Brown, have suggested that the interjection "Hey" could be a corruption of the adjective "Sigh".[4]

It is also used as an informal greeting, similar to hi.

References

  1. Gisle Andersen, Karin Aijmer Pragmatics of Society 2011 - Page 262 "The interjection hey is basically a summonsing or attention getting device. Oh is fairly well described already as a marker within the information framework of discourse (see Heritage 1984 and Schiffrin 1987), and several others, namely huh, ..."
  2. Jodene Smith How to Punctuate: Grades 1-3 1999 - Page 11 "Use an exclamation point after an interjection. Hey! Yikes! Look out! Did you know that these types of words are a part of speech called interjections? An interjection shows a strong emotion and usually ends with an exclamation point."
  3. Katie Marsico - Interjections -2013 1624312500 Page 8 "The word hey is one example of an interjection that speakers use to express surprise. So are terms such as ah, whoa, wow, gosh, and oh. “Yikes!"
  4. Goold Brown, Samuel U. Berrian The Grammar of English Grammars 1851 Page 1059 "The Interjection Hey is probably a corruption of the adjective Sigh"


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