Discourse-Pragmatic Functions of  Oh, Ah , and  Aha in Ghanaian English

Abstract

This study examines the discourse-pragmatic uses of the interjections oh, ah , and aha in Ghanaian English. The data are drawn from the Ghanaian component of the Corpus of Global Web-Based English (GloWbE) to enable the analysis of naturally occurring instances in online discourse. Drawing on the framework of postcolonial corpus pragmatics, the study adopts a qualitative approach to investigate the orthographic variation, co-occurrence patterns, and discourse-pragmatic functions of the interjections oh, ah, and aha . The findings show that these interjections perform a range of functions which include signalling realisation, expressing surprise, indexing understanding, marking affective stance, and facilitating speaker–listener alignment. The orthographic patterns further reveal systematic lengthening strategies that convey heightened emotional intensity and reflect the transfer of spoken discourse features into written computer-mediated communication. These interjections function as pragmatic resources through which speakers negotiate meaning and manage interpersonal relations in Ghanaian English. The study contributes to research on World Englishes by demonstrating how globally shared discourse-pragmatic features are locally reinterpreted and integrated into postcolonial contexts. Specifically, it adds to studies on the use of interjections in Ghanaian English.