These words do not assert anything and very much of the meaning which we give them must come from the tone in which they are uttered. Every one, upon hearing them, knows at once whether they express grief or delight.
388. An interjection is an exclamatory word or phrase used to express feeling or to imitate some sound.
389. Interjections may be divided into four classes:
1. Words which we use instead of an assertion to express feeling of various kinds, as:
- (a) Surprise or wonder; as, Oh, Aha, What.
- (b) Pleasure, joy, or exaltation; as, Hurrah, Ha, Ha.
- (c) Pain, sadness or sorrow; as, Alas, Alack.
- (d) Contempt or disgust; as Fie, Fudge, Ugh, Pshaw.
2. Words used instead of a question; as, Eh? Hey?
3. Words used instead of a command; as:
- (a) To call attention; as, Hello, Ahoy, Whoa.
- (b) To express silence; as, Shh, Hush, Hist.
- (c) To direct or drive out, etc., as, Whoa, Gee, Haw, Scat.
4. Words used to imitate sounds made by animals, machines, etc., as, Bow-wow, Ding-dong, Bang, Rub-a-dub.
When we wish to imitate noises or sounds made by animals, machines, etc., in writing, we spell out the words as nearly as we can, just as we write ding-dong to represent the sound of the bell or tick-tock to indicate the ticking of a clock.