What is an interjection?

Definition
	An interjection is a form, typically brief, such as one syllable or word, which is used most often as an exclamation or part of an exclamation.
	An interjection
	typically expresses an emotional reaction, often with respect to an accompanying sentence is not syntactically related to other accompanying expressions, and may include a combination of sounds not otherwise found in the language.

Examples (English)

psst
ugh
excellent
well, well

Sources:

Crystal 1980 188–189

Hartmann and Stork 1972 115

Generic
	An interjection is a kind of
	What is a word?

Sources
	Crystal 1980 188–189
	Hartmann and Stork 1972 115
	Mish 1990:631

Context for this page:

Concept module: interjection
In overview module: Glossary (Linguistics): I
In modular book: Glossary of linguistic terms, by Eugene E. Loos (general editor), Susan Anderson (editor), Dwight H., Day, Jr. (editor), Paul C. Jordan (editor), and J. Douglas Wingate (editor)
In bookshelf: Linguistics

This page is an extract from the LinguaLinks Library, Version 5.0 published on CD-ROM by SIL International, 2003. [Ordering information.]

Page content last modified: 5 January 2004

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