Pronunciation watch

[Lat-Literal]

Is this 'upward inflection' as used by Australians notable because of the frequency with which it's used, or is it that it's used without any hint of the 'normal' (over here!) element of querying?

Both!

It is so integral to speech patterns of people from a sector of the population that they can't seem to do anything about it. I'd see it as having become a peer group convention at a certain time when it was felt required for social inclusion. It is, without doubt, principally women. I think it does have a meaning. It isn't questioning as it pertains to what is being said which is always a statement or an answer rather than a question. The implied question is "are you understanding me?" or "can you understand me?" in a context where there is no reason why they shouldn't be understood, ie they are professional women of 32-42, erudite and with expertise in their fields. It is an "uncertain" carry-over from their teens.

There are plenty of professional men on "You and Yours" etc of a similar age who do the same. They are probably the ones who also spent a lot of time watching "Neighbours"!

[french frank]

Thank you, professor - a very full reply

[Lat-Literal]

Thank you, professor - a very full reply

[jean]

...It is, without doubt, principally women...

Which is only what you'd expect, since another name for this feature is High Rising Terminal (HRT)

[ahinton]

It is so integral to speech patterns of people from a sector of the population that they can't seem to do anything about it. I'd see it as having become a peer group convention at a certain time when it was felt required for social inclusion. It is, without doubt, principally women.

But not, please not, principally women composers, otherwise you'd be in danger of tangling two threads together in a way that no self-respecting woman would ever do when she's busy sewing...

[Serial_Apologist]

Which is only what you'd expect, since another name for this feature is High Rising Terminal (HRT)

I'm thinking of maybe always putting a question mark at the ends of my sentences? To make people feel more at ease with me?

[ahinton]

I'm thinking of maybe always putting a question mark at the ends of my sentences? To make people feel more at ease with me?

Why might you think that people are not already at ease with you?

Oops; that's actually a question?...

[ahinton]

Is this 'upward inflection' as used by Australians notable because of the frequency with which it's used, or is it that it's used without any hint of the 'normal' (over here!) element of querying?

Someone - I cannot for the life of me now remember who - once described this upward inflection habit as representative of "British Rail Sandwich Speech" (you'd have to be d'un certain age to appreciate that one!)...

[jean]

Why might you think that people are not already at ease with you?

Yes but not enough - he craves that extra bit of reassurance. (Just like a woman.)

[Lat-Literal]

Which is only what you'd expect, since another name for this feature is High Rising Terminal (HRT)

Just find it a bit weird because clearly these people are practical, modern and businesslike.

I am dogmatically in a complete dreamworld while in verbal delivery indecisively forthright.

[Padraig]

Yes but not enough - he craves that extra bit of reassurance. (Just like a woman.)

You've been listening to CoW, Hoagy Carmichael, jean? A woman likes to be told?

[ahinton]

Yes but not enough - he craves that extra bit of reassurance. (Just like a woman.)

I'd sooner have heard that from S_A if indeed it is the case but, in the meantime, is that "extra bit of assurance" something that you'd expect from any woman or is it something peculiar to women composers?

[Serial_Apologist]

Yes but not enough - he craves that extra bit of reassurance. (Just like a woman.)

[Eine Alpensinfonie]

José Mourinho.

I wish football commentators would pronounce his surname correctly. The letter "h" is not, as far as I know, pronounced "ee" in Portugese. Gary Lineker is one of the few who has bothered to find out the correct pronunciation.

[gurnemanz]

Talking about the NOW's tour of S. America this afternoon Katie D bizarrely decided to pronounce Santiago to rhyme with Diego. Difficult to know how on earth she arrived at that choice.