Attitudes and geographical variation in the use of pragmatic particles in Faroese: The case of sært tú, hoyr(ir) tú, skilir tú and veitst tú

Abstract

The study presents the results of a preliminary investigation of the use of a number of pragmatic particles in Faroese: sært tú ‘you see’, hoyr(ir) tú ‘listen’, skilir tú ‘you understand’, and veitst tú ‘y’know’. The data were collected through questionnaires and interviews and analyzed in relation to the social variable settlement. Data were collected from the five settlements of Tórshavn, Sandur, Tvøroyri, Klaksvík, and Fuglafjørður. The study found geographical variation in the use of the pragmatic particles and discusses the attitudes people in the Faroe Islands have towards the use of pragmatic particles.

Keywords

• pragmatic particle
• attitude
• geographical variation