Expressivity and Interjections

Abstract This chapter provides a comprehensive overview of interjections, focusing on their linguistic functions and usage in spoken discourse. Often perceived as simple, interjections are actually complex linguistic elements that play a crucial role in conveying emotions, managing conversations, and facilitating interaction. The chapter begins with a discussion of various definitions and approaches to interjections, followed by an exploration of the different categories and related issues of categorization. It presents clines that illustrate the varying degrees to which interjectional expressions function as interjections, as well as an examination of their role in expressing emotions. Additionally, the formal properties of emotive interjections are outlined, considering core linguistic levels and aspects such as gestures and spelling. The chapter concludes with a summary of recent studies on interjections and offers final reflections on their significance in linguistic research.