Question for Brits here
- Thread starter Miss Chicken
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I gather in America it is a trait of Valley Girl speak. Stephen Fry talks about it here
http://youtu.be/OluCvL0lRnI
"Upward intonation?" You mean, as when everything---statements, exclamations, etc--sound like questions? I always thought that was part of some local dialects and not any indication of aptitude or intellect, or even age. Aren't some Irish and Australian accents like that?
I don't see anything wrong with it. Is it really that offensive? I think, if really that offends your sensibilities, you're probably just a snob.
It's not really part of "Valley Girl" speak. That's accomplished more by having a slack jaw and not pronouncing consonants. "Oh my God," turns into "Oh ma Gaw!"
I live in Texas. Compared to some of the accents we hear around these parts, mere "upward intonation" would seem quite charming.
I don't see anything wrong with it. Is it really that offensive? I think, if really that offends your sensibilities, you're probably just a snob.
It's not really part of "Valley Girl" speak. That's accomplished more by having a slack jaw and not pronouncing consonants. "Oh my God," turns into "Oh ma Gaw!"
I live in Texas. Compared to some of the accents we hear around these parts, mere "upward intonation" would seem quite charming.
I suppose current actors on Neighbours upspeak, I have never watched neighbours myself.
I don't think I have heard Kylie interviewed for many a year so i don't know if she still does it.
Yes.
It's just that a whole generation (or two) got used to hearing Australian accents on a daily basis who'd never been exposed to it before. I certainly noticed it creep in over the years, but it never bothered me. But it's not the fault of one or two actors, or even a single TV programme.
I never really noticed my own (Essex) accent until I left there and went back years later.
Charlene or Scott?!! How many gazillions of years ago was that?
My observations: women use it more than men. Qld'ers use it more prevalently. Not using it (in Aus) can result in being seen as harsh speaking, speaking coldly or forefully. I've had several European friends (women) who have battled this judgement over an inflection that doesn't come naturally at all. One European friend of mine taught herself how to answer the phone in upspeak because she got so much flak over it.. to the point where I now mock her doing so because it's been at parody levels for years poor thing. We used to practice having conversations completely in upspeak
My observations: women use it more than men. Qld'ers use it more prevalently. Not using it (in Aus) can result in being seen as harsh speaking, speaking coldly or forefully. I've had several European friends (women) who have battled this judgement over an inflection that doesn't come naturally at all. One European friend of mine taught herself how to answer the phone in upspeak because she got so much flak over it.. to the point where I now mock her doing so because it's been at parody levels for years poor thing. We used to practice having conversations completely in upspeak
It does a bit, yeah - it seems to have come to the UK from Australia via Neighbours and Home And Away...
There is one episode in the Story of English documentary series that mentions this incredibly annoying way of speaking. In that episode it was referred to as "uptalk."
I think it fits in well with the Australian mindset of "she'll be right" and general optimism and desire to live in the moment.
But that's my whole life! wah..
One European friend of mine taught herself how to answer the phone in upspeak because she got so much flak over it.. to the point where I now mock her doing so because it's been at parody levels for years poor thing. We used to practice having conversations completely in upspeak
That's just it, isn't it? If you didn't grow up with it you simply can't fake it. It's part of the dialect.
I inadvertently amuse the locals whenever I say "yogurt". Why they find my pronunciation of this so amusing I don't know, but it's happened so often it's downright annoying.
At least in certain contexts, it's quite appropriate.
For example, when you are giving directions to someone, as in the video, you might like acknowledgement that the directions have been correctly received. "Upspeak" intonation implicitly seeks acknowledgement whenever it's used. Appropriate acknowledgement can even be just in the form of a nod of the head, say as each step is written down. Of course, that's a very specific situation.
For example, when you are giving directions to someone, as in the video, you might like acknowledgement that the directions have been correctly received. "Upspeak" intonation implicitly seeks acknowledgement whenever it's used. Appropriate acknowledgement can even be just in the form of a nod of the head, say as each step is written down. Of course, that's a very specific situation.
That's not what it means though CC. It's just a normal speech pattern whether you are seeking an answer or not.
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