WHAT IS HERE, THERE? (published 7-28-2019)

For all my “rich, full” life, I have heard many folks in Upper East Tennessee use “there” or “here” as an extra word in a sentence or at the end of a sentence there. There are many examples here. Here are a few there:

“How do you want me to do that there?”

“What do you think about that there?”

“In all my born days, I’ve never seen that there!”

“I thought I’d give you a call there.”

“What is that there (thar) thing doing here?”

“Well, I’m just a-‘sottin’ (sitting) here.”

“Do you want some of this here pie?”

 

The list, as in my mind, could go on infinitely! Of course, “there” is pronounced “thar,” and “here” is pronounced “hear,” with emphasis on the “he” and a slow drag out on the “ar.”

Well, the Appalachian Irishman became interested in this here topic yesterday there. As far as I know, no one else has written anything on this here Internet world of fun on this here topic there. So, it is up to me to take that there bull by the horns and to wrestle it to the ground there!

Okay, so, to all you linguists out there, why do we, here in Irish-American Appalachia, use “there” and/or “here” as extra words in sentences? This here inquiring mind wants to know there!