a+verb

[Our Tort System]

Hello,

I've come across the following structure for God knows how many times and it's always perplexed me:
A + verb + ing
As in the following example:

Then we'll be a-eating, won't we?

So the long and short of it: what does this "a" mean? What does it add to the meaning?

Thanks!
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If it's not easy, don't do it!
That's how I got where I am.

[Miracles.]

It has no use; it is dialectal. As a native speaker it perplexes me too.

[Floating_Cloud]

I guess 'a' here could be a gap filler, i.e. uh. So that sentence could be this: Then we'll be - uh - eating, won't we?

[Beeesneees]

I've never hear/seen that structure.
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Cheers m' dears!

[Miracles.]

^Beeesneees

It's a very American thing. Not heard it here but I have certainly heard it in Americans TV Shows and films.

[Beeesneees]

I've seen plenty of American films and TV shows but have never noticed anything like that.
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Cheers m' dears!

[Miracles.]

You weren't listening closely enough then :P

[Beeesneees]

I'm going to have to give up multi-tasking and buy a 'surround sound' system.
_________________
Cheers m' dears!

[Miracles.]

There is one example you've probably heard: "Everything is a-ok".

[Beeesneees]

Not the same... and I suspect you know it ;D
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Cheers m' dears!

[Our Tort System]

Thanks for the replies, guys!