Inflection?!!

[Wispy68]

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?'

[andy hughes]

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 (?)

[Spellmaster]

I could also ask why people insert apostrophes into plurals - eg CD's - when CDs is correct.

[Wispy68]

Yes, thank you Spellmaster. I've realised my mistake! Just one thing, Do you not think you have a little too much time on your hands?

[inachis]

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?

[Miss Betty]

It's a Welsh thing. I am told I do it, which I must have picked up off my Welsh mother. I don't watch Aussie soaps, so the blame doesn't lie there for me at least.