I agree the short Canadian-style use of 'eh' is quite efficient, but consider the Americans - they don't use a word at all, they simply raise the pitch at the end of any sentence to ask for confirmation of the listener's understanding. Indeed, they can make ptretty well any sentence sound like a question without the need for wording it like a question, forcing you to nod, or 'uh-huh' in reply. Drives me quite batty actually.
The way you worded your question
"it isn't such a bad word is it" is a good example of the English way to achive confirmation of understanding, such as "that blue is a nice colour, isn't it?". Unfortunately, in recent years it's been reduced to one word - "innit?" And as if just to acheive perfect annoyance, "innit" has become disassociated from it's origins, and has become an arbitary noise made at the end of almost any sentence, innit?
Arrrrghhhhhh!!
Loz "
Loving what is right is different from hating what is wrong and feeling right about it"- Roy Masters
