uptalk

noun

1. (uncountable)Speech that has a rising intonation at the end of a sentence, as if it were a question; upspeak.

   “The sorority members' own interpretation of uptalk was that it was a way of being inclusive.”

   “Once used exclusively by teenagers, uptalk is increasingly found in the workplace with negative results. When statements sound like questions, speakers seem weak and tentative. […] On the job, managers afflicted by uptalk may have difficulty convincing staff members to follow directions because their voice inflection implies that other valid options are possible.”

verb

1. (intransitive)To speak with a rising intonation at the end of a sentence, as if it were a question; to upspeak.

   “I asked the girl what she wanted. "Um, an apple martini?" she uptalked. / "I can do one," I said, "but you'll regret it." Our apple juice was disgusting and the apples we kept in stock weren't even the right kind.”

   “I drove my sneaker into her shin. "Our assignment was to pretend we were at a sporting event? Okay?" / "She uptalks when she's nervous," Cinnamon said to Lars. He chuckled, but her comment made me mad. And embarrassed. / "I'm not nervous," I said.”

   “It's worth noting, too, that typical interpretation of uptalking – that the speaker is indicating doubt about their assertion – is inaccurate. While this is one function of uptalking, when performed by someone with less discursive power towards someone with more discursive power, uptalking also functions to let the hearer know that the speaker would like the hearer's input. This is what happens when speakers with more discursive power uptalk to hearers with less discursive power.”

   “Citing analyses of uptalk and proposals concerning its origins, he hopes that looking at the evidence for how uptalk is actually used 'will help you make linguistic peace with your uptalking daughter and her professional friends'.”