ChatterBank2 mins ago
Inflection?!!
6 Answers
Why do some people speak almost every sentence, as though they are asking a question? I noticed this about eight years ago and it's usually young people who do it. Have they been watching too many Aussie soaps, as Australians also speak in a similar way? Is it called an 'inflection?'
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For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.The blame for this particular speech inflection is being laid at the door of Australian soaps, and the students who watch them! It's true that Australians do speak with a slight lift at the end of some sentences, but for some reason, this appears to be exagerated in the characters of Antipodean soaps, and it sounds even more pronounced when spoken with an English accent. Speech oddities like this are the result of modern communications - people hear regional accents far more via TV and radio than they did years ago, and people move around and travel far more now than they did. Jamie Oliver Is responsible for the advent of certain Estuary English phrases, and comedy shows like 'The Fast Show' have ensured that certain phrases and expressions have entered the national conciousness. Hopefully the particular irritant of which you speak will pass on and out of general usage. I hope so (?)
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americans have always inflected eg "you like ice cream?" in modern english it can confer several maenings kids especillaly like it when talking to adults because they dont always understand they assume you dont too!!!???
its annoying and part of the great dumbing down bonanza
do you hear my tone well do ya?