The interplay between a domestic and borrowed form: A comparison of <i>ha</i> and <i>what</i> in Icelandic conversation

Abstract The aim of the study is to compare the use of two different particles that are used in Icelandic conversation: the native form ha and the English borrowing what . The research questions are as follows: (1) What are the similarities and differences between the two forms in terms of turn-position, sequential placement, prosody, and functions?, and (2) What can the comparison tell us about the borrowing of discourse particles from one language to another? The data consisted of 28 hours and 36 minutes of conversation. The methodology employed in the study is that of interactional linguistics. The study shows that although ha and what have some similarities in certain environments, there are certain differences between the two forms. What is more limited in use than ha , both in terms of functions and position within a turn.