Today’s Jesus ‘n’ Mo cartoon is called “upspeak”, the form of speech in which every declarative sentence ends with a rising intonation, as if one were asking a question. I dislike this form of speech, as it seems to betoken insecurity—as if the upspeaker were asking for affirmation in every sentence.
It came with an email note (that I don’t quite understand):
Jesus, if you don’t stop tormenting Mo you’ll be put on the naughty step.
And a caption with upspeak:
There is no god but Allah? And Mohammed is his prophet?
I used to regard upspeak as a kind of asking for either approval or else an invitation to discuss. Lately I have begun to feel that is more of a slight threat(!) Like— ‘ This is my stance and you better believe it. Plainly you haven’t thought thru the matter as I have’
Woke speak in other words.
I vaguely recall this used to be very common amongst Australian women when I was growing up. Probably some sort of subtle sexism, where ‘good women’ were not supposed to assert anything. Too aggressive! Glad it is fading/out of favor.
All Australians do it?
It alive and being used all the time here in NZ.
Thought-provoking insight. I wonder if the one evolved from the success of the first.
This was meant as a reply to CB at #1, not as a free-standing comment.
” “upspeak”, the form of speech in which every declarative sentence ends with a rising intonation, as if one were asking a question. I dislike this form of speech, as it seems to betoken insecurity—as if the upspeaker were asking for affirmation in every sentence.”
I couldn’t have said it better MYSELF.?
This quote should be in the DICTIONARY.?
… I used “.?” to denote the tone. Just occurred to me.
At another level upspeak could suggest the listener is incapable of understanding the speaker’s little statement – effectively, a veiled narcissistic condescension.?
“One plus one is TWO.? [I’m so brilliant! These small people might not be able to keep up!]”
According to Google, a “naughty step” is when you make a child sit on a step for being naughty. A pretty mild punishment though being made to sit still is nearly corporal punishment when young. As we get older, it seems not so bad.
It seems a very modern term, late 90s, took off in last 20 years. I certainly never heard it used until those TV programmes with nannies.
The naughty step Is a UK term. It is a place, originally a step on a staircase I would guess, where a child is put for bad behaviour. I think it is the equivalent of a “time out” in the USA.
‘The corner’ (“Go sit in the corner”) is a bit closer. ‘Time out’ is not necessarily punitive; it just separates the people engaged in conflict under the assumption that with some cool-off time, they will not re-engage. People are now using ‘time out’ to mean go to your room and play with your toys.
Is it? I thought Americans used it as well… I suppose they would have a naughty escalator or elevator .
I remember very foggily the little 2 room schoolhouse where I went to kindergarten some 80 years ago having a 3 or 4 step moveable set of steps that served several functions. The bottom step was like the stool that in latter schools one sat on in the corner for punishment and top step was the seat of distinction.
It looks like Jesus is having doubts about elementary christology.
I’ve always thought that it was strategy to grab the moral high ground – the speaker is demonstrating that they aren’t being authoritative but are conciliatory and care about the opinions of others.
The other options offered here are all just as likely, however.
I never noticed it until the 90s but it is a feature of Norfolk dialect, at least in more recent times.
In standard English it makes people sound either Australian as Jeremy says, or very unsure of yourself, seeking affirmation.
And then there’s the vocal fry…although now it appears that any criticism of either one is just another expression of sexism: https://www.npr.org/2015/07/23/425608745/from-upspeak-to-vocal-fry-are-we-policing-young-womens-voices.
Because “because it makes you sound like an idiot” is apparently no longer acceptable criticism.
I was unfamiliar with the term “upspeak” until just now but have been aware of it for maybe the last 5 or 6 year. It sets my teeth on edge. It seems to be a growing trend the finally burst into my consciousness.
There are some interesting speculations in the comments here as to purpose although I think many practitioners are barely aware they are doing it much less doing it with conscious purpose. I notice it more when a speaker is addressing others who may be anticipated to know more. So my speculation is that it is rooted in insecurity. (or should that be “rooted in insecurity?”]
If you’re NOT an up-speaker, you get to ask the question “Really?” and have it come out different than the emphatic agreement “Really!” Or if you want confirmation that you heard something correctly, you can just repeat and add a rising intonation – no need to prefix “Did you just say…” The convention we have is so freaking useful, it would be a crime to lose it.
I mean, really!