uptalking

Ending sentences high

Uptalking is speaking with a rising intonation at the end of statements, making them sound like questions.

The pattern—sometimes called uptalk or high rising terminal—became associated with California speech in the 1980s and has since spread widely.

Critics find it tentative or annoying; linguists note it often serves to check whether listeners are following: So I went to the store? And they were totally out?

stereotype

valleyspeak

Southern California speech pattern

CaliforniaWest coast megastate
teenYoung person, 13-19
vocal fryCreaky lowest voice register

like · totally · whatever · omigod · mall · SoCal · surfer · airhead · Valley Girl · millennial

intonation

rising

Act of ascending

inflectionWord form alteration
pitchFrequency of sound
cadenceRhythmic pulse or pattern

prosody · modulation · tone · stress · uptick · lilt · speech pattern · phonetics · articulation · vocalization

perception

uncertain

Not firmly known

tentativeUncertain and provisional
insecureLacking self-assurance
unassertiveNot forceful or bold

approval-seeking · hesitant · doubtful · questioning · submissive · lacking confidence · passive · deferential · noncommittal · unsure

pragmatics

turn-taking

Alternating speaker roles

conversationExchange of spoken ideas
backchannelUnofficial communication pathway
engagementCommitment to wed or attend

politeness · rapport · inclusive · softening · hedging · interactive · solidarity

Opposites

intonation pattern

uptalkingmonotone

Single unvarying pitch

low rise

communicative stance

uptalkingpontificating

Speaking pompously at length

lecturing · pronouncing · declaiming

Family

talk, talking, talker, talkers, uptalk

Familiarity: Top 500,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Rated G