Query: Origin of "oops"

[Dennis R. Preston]

You didn't have to go so far; you could have heard us guys around
Louisville doing the same "hunh-uh." I have no idea if there is any
subtle (distributional) difference between the two, but I have both.
If I were not a sociolinguist and deplored introspection on use with
every fiber of my being (except for folk linguistic analysis), I
might opine that the "h"-full form is more deliberate or emphatic,
but I won't go there.

dInIs

>Looks to me that in fuller context,the Atlantic's "uh-uh!" actually
>means "uh-oh!"
>
>Did I mention once before that when I moved to Tennessee I heard
>people saying "hunh-unh!" (No!) with quite audible aspiration where
>I was familiar only with "unh-unh!"
>
>Could this be a survival from Middle English ?  You know, like "hit" ?
>
>Couldn't resist.  But the reported form is genuine.
>
>JL
>

--
Dennis R. Preston
University Distinguished Professor
Department of Linguistics and Germanic, Slavic,
        Asian and African Languages
Wells Hall A-740
Michigan State University
East Lansing, MI 48824-1027 USA
Office: (517) 353-0740
Fax: (517) 432-2736