The fad for the upward inflection - at the end of a phrase or sentence - came into use, what, about 20 years ago, or was it less than that?
No matter. Whatever Gen it was that took to it, they've sort of grown up with it and for many of them it has stuck.

Now here's the theory. Not all that important, just another one of those little things that fill your day.

I think that the upward inflection is like a question mark after the statement. It's a hesitant sort of search for support. In other words, "I'm saying this but I need to know you all agree with me" kind of request.
But why is Gen whatever so lacking in confidence that it needs to follow everything it says with a cry for approval?
Is this a product of the world of political correctness?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KpBYnL5fAXE   http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T3j4n5Jm1Qg

bogarde73 wrote on Sep 11^th, 2014 at 10:15am:

The fad for the upward inflection - at the end of a phrase or sentence - came into use, what, about 20 years ago, or was it less than that? No matter. Whatever Gen it was that took to it, they've sort of grown up with it and for many of them it has stuck. Now here's the theory. Not all that important, just another one of those little things that fill your day. I think that the upward inflection is like a question mark after the statement. It's a hesitant sort of search for support. In other words, "I'm saying this but I need to know you all agree with me" kind of request. But why is Gen whatever so lacking in confidence that it needs to follow everything it says with a cry for approval? Is this a product of the world of political correctness?

and canned laughter doesnt do it for me either....

but its trivial really by todays standards..

it used to be a thing with 4 year olds.. WHY? m aybe we do look for approval at every turn... strewth wouldnt want to come on a forum like this then would you?

bogarde73 wrote on Sep 11^th, 2014 at 10:15am:

The fad for the upward inflection - at the end of a phrase or sentence - came into use, what, about 20 years ago, or was it less than that? No matter. Whatever Gen it was that took to it, they've sort of grown up with it and for many of them it has stuck. Now here's the theory. Not all that important, just another one of those little things that fill your day. I think that the upward inflection is like a question mark after the statement. It's a hesitant sort of search for support. In other words, "I'm saying this but I need to know you all agree with me" kind of request. But why is Gen whatever so lacking in confidence that it needs to follow everything it says with a cry for approval? Is this a product of the world of political correctness?

It's been around for a long, long time Bogy, it's called the "Rising Interrogative".

One thing I think I have noticed in raising my kids is that the later generations are a lot more peer dependent then we ever were and that may be why their search for approval in their language may be more prominent. Just guessing you understand. 

Its the closet pom gene emerging causing serfs to seek to mentally prostrate themselves in front of others hoping a master will emerge from the flock.

Yes, the old Interrogative Erection at the end of every sentence, but.

I think it was teachers who introduced this upwards inflection when they would make a statement, with raised eye-brows and a searching look around the class, as though to say "OK? All agreed with that?"

***

Incredibly, I actually have a cat that will call to me from another room with a normal "Meow .... meow?" a couple of times (ie "Where are you?") ... and if I don't answer, she'll then upward inflect the next "Meow?" just like a human.

Well that's another possibility . . .we got it from cats.

I can remember it back in the '50s in Primary School.

If a kid was giving an answer s/he was not sure of, the answer always came out sounding like a question.

One teacher even used to ask if that 'answer was followed by a ?mark, or an !mark.....'

:)

bogarde73 wrote on Sep 11^th, 2014 at 10:15am:

The fad for the upward inflection - at the end of a phrase or sentence - came into use, what, about 20 years ago, or was it less than that? No matter. Whatever Gen it was that took to it, they've sort of grown up with it and for many of them it has stuck. Now here's the theory. Not all that important, just another one of those little things that fill your day. I think that the upward inflection is like a question mark after the statement. It's a hesitant sort of search for support. In other words, "I'm saying this but I need to know you all agree with me" kind of request. But why is Gen whatever so lacking in confidence that it needs to follow everything it says with a cry for approval? Is this a product of the world of political correctness?

as I am older than 20 I can confirm that the rising interrogative has been part of language for a lot longer than that - perhaps since the dawn of time.  I don't really get the point of your post.

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 11^th, 2014 at 3:36pm:

I don't really get the point of your post

its called chit chat

John Smith wrote on Sep 11^th, 2014 at 3:38pm:

longweekend58 wrote on Sep 11th, 2014 at 3:36pm: I don't really get the point of your post its called chit chat

its called chit chat?

No No longie. Seriously. There came a time, I don't remember exactly, when young people were using it ALL the time.

It's not chit chat John. This is a serious socio-philosophic question, to which I urge you to turn your mind before intergenerational communication becomes  significantly impaired.

bogarde73 wrote on Sep 11^th, 2014 at 4:40pm:

No No longie. Seriously. There came a time, I don't remember exactly, when young people were using it ALL the time. It's not chit chat John. This is a serious socio-philosophic question, to which I urge you to turn your mind before intergenerational communication becomes  significantly impaired.

humans evolve as does the way we communicate .... deal with it.

Gee, if Americans are just catching onto this after its been a part of Australian language for so long...  ::)

But hey: Australia originated 'Texting' with our lazy shortening of words: G'day, C'mon

And Grunge was something known as Westie back in the 70's of the Sydney Western Suburbs.

Current Generation is the: E-Generation.
E-mail
E-tag
E-way
E ...because 'E-verything' is E-lectronic now ...E-ven 'E-Cars'.

Jasin wrote on Sep 11^th, 2014 at 4:57pm:

Gee, if Americans are just catching onto this after its been a part of Australian language for so long...  ::) But hey: Australia originated 'Texting' with our lazy shortening of words: G'day, C'mon And Grunge was something known as Westie back in the 70's of the Sydney Western Suburbs. Current Generation is the: E-Generation. E-mail E-tag E-way E ...because 'E-verything' is E-lectronic now ...E-ven 'E-Cars'.

And E-clair - for those not up with the times, an E-clair is a 21st century word for a type of pastry filled with cream and often topped with chocolate.

bogarde73 wrote on Sep 11^th, 2014 at 4:40pm:

No No longie. Seriously. There came a time, I don't remember exactly, when young people were using it ALL the time. It's not chit chat John. This is a serious socio-philosophic question, to which I urge you to turn your mind before intergenerational communication becomes  significantly impaired.

IM 56  I NEVER remember a time when this wasn't true.

bogarde73 wrote on Sep 11^th, 2014 at 4:40pm:

No No longie. Seriously. There came a time, I don't remember exactly, when young people were using it ALL the time. It's not chit chat John. This is a serious socio-philosophic question, to which I urge you to turn your mind before intergenerational communication becomes  significantly impaired.

Im 47 and I can't say that I have noticed it either.

But then again intergenerational communication is now impossible with the gen y and gen z using "like" half a dozen times in each sentence.

The_Barnacle wrote on Sep 11^th, 2014 at 10:11pm:

Im 47 and I can't say that I have noticed it either. But then again intergenerational communication is now impossible with the gen y and gen z using "like" half a dozen times in each sentence.

... and the obligatory "bugger" 7 times in each sentence. Every day when school is let out at 3.00pm I have shoals of kids swanning past my place on their way home, using the most choice language as an imperative if they are not to be seen by their peers as gay or uncool.

Like, needless to say, the girls are far worse than the boys.

But.

Lord Herbert wrote on Sep 12^th, 2014 at 10:08am:

The_Barnacle wrote on Sep 11th, 2014 at 10:11pm: Im 47 and I can't say that I have noticed it either. But then again intergenerational communication is now impossible with the gen y and gen z using "like" half a dozen times in each sentence. ... and the obligatory "bugger" 7 times in each sentence. Every day when school is let out at 3.00pm I have shoals of kids swanning past my place on their way home, using the most choice language as an imperative if they are not to be seen by their peers as gay or uncool. Like, needless to say, the girls are far worse than the boys. But.

To be fair though, absurd amounts of swearing is something teenagers have always done. It certainly happened when I was at school.

The_Barnacle wrote on Sep 13^th, 2014 at 1:48pm:

To be fair though, absurd amounts of swearing is something teenagers have always done. It certainly happened when I was at school.

To be honest, we didn't swear much at boarding school. There was no such thing as 'a warning' for 'misbehaviour'. There was never any 'second chance'. To be caught swearing meant a caning.

I've made up for it since then, of course.

Fcukin' oath.  8-)

ImSpartacus2 wrote on Sep 11^th, 2014 at 5:16pm:

Jasin wrote on Sep 11th, 2014 at 4:57pm: Gee, if Americans are just catching onto this after its been a part of Australian language for so long...  ::) But hey: Australia originated 'Texting' with our lazy shortening of words: G'day, C'mon And Grunge was something known as Westie back in the 70's of the Sydney Western Suburbs. Current Generation is the: E-Generation. E-mail E-tag E-way E ...because 'E-verything' is E-lectronic now ...E-ven 'E-Cars'. And E-clair - for those not up with the times, an E-clair is a 21st century word for a type of pastry filled with cream and often topped with chocolate.

e-Bowler?

eVille?

Welcome to eVille - the next stage in urban planning.... our housing grid is laid out on the eZy system so as to ensure that traveling salespersons and so forth can NEVER find you.. let alone ambulance and police when you need them - thus creating for them the eZy life!  It is also eConomical to live in eVille!

I can't say that we swore much when I was at school but my memory might be unreliable on this.
Certainly we didn't go round using the F or C word in every other sentence.