Rising speech

[funkyrich]

Why have people in Britain adopted this peculiar way of talking where their speech rises at the end of a sentence?I think it sounds stupid.It must be a fairly recent phenomenon because,as a teen myself in the 1980's I don't recall any of my peers talking like this..

[Bellringer]

I think it is relatively recent. Another example of the younger geneartion being influenced by American TV programmes.
Lots of Americans seem to talk like that. I call it talking in questions.

[Quizmonster]

I don't quite know why - Australian soaps, perhaps? - but you can read about it here.

[jno]

I think QM is right: the younger generation grew up watching Neighbours and Home and Away; it's a common Australian speech pattern

[spudqueen]

I find it really annoying, it makes every sentance sound like a question. eg I am going to visit my Mother? It should be a statement not a question!

[bigmamma]

lol , Iv'e noticed that for some time now and , after 13 years in Australia , it seems odd to hear it over here . Next the youngsters will be ending a sentence with but . :-)

[andy-hughes]

As usual QM has the correct answer.

Interestingly - if you speak to Australians, the upward inflection is hardly noticeable, but on TV it comes over very strongly - hence the adoption by students, and by some other social groups.

It is irritating, but it will pass ....

[Skreecheeboy]

I've been accused of it but I think it just makes my voice more interesting and it only happens when I get excited when I'm retelling a story, although I don't just do it at the end of sentences. It's better than speaking in monotone.