What to say when you don't understand...

SandwichShortOfAPicnic said:
Excuse me is a common way to approach others here but if you said excuse me to mean pardon? Then it would have the same inferred “What did you just say?!!” thing as “I beg your pardon”
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Here it depends on the inflection of your voice. "Excuse me" could mean you were getting ready to walk past someone or reach over them (like in the grocery store) to pick something up and didn't want them to be startled, or if you wanted to ask someone a question, you might preface it with "Excuse me." Also depending on the tone of your voice, it might indicate you didn't like what someone said and replied sternly, "Excuse me?"
 
JAS_OH1 said:
Here it depends on the inflection of your voice. "Excuse me" could mean you were getting ready to walk past someone or reach over them (like in the grocery store) to pick something up and didn't want them to be startled, or if you wanted to ask someone a question, you might preface it with "Excuse me." Also depending on the tone of your voice, it might indicate you didn't like what someone said and replied sternly, "Excuse me?"
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Yep that’s pretty much the same here.
 
I didn’t think my offhand comment on the other thread would create so much commentary, eh?

Canadians use “eh” in 4 distinct ways. Eliciting confirmation, expression of disbelief, eliciting repetition (like what’s being discussed in this thread), and metalingustic commentary to express a link with Canada.

Now that I’ve had fun with Wikipedia, I’m off to pick up a mickey at the Licbo. Hope I don’t get a soaker on the way there, and maybe on the way back I’ll join the rink rats for a game of shinny.
 
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