Uptalk

I hate it. It's that imaginary question mark you hear at the end of a statement. And it's not just young people sounding like Valley Girls. I remember attending a workshop back in the early 90s lead by a colleague (who will remain nameless, but is about my age) whose uptalk was so bad I couldn't even pay attention because I thought she was asking questions instead of making statements.... Uptalk is used more by women than men and it makes them sound weak and tenuous.

Example: I'm a librarian? And I'm here to explain the Dewey Decimal System? No, that's not John Dewey? He's the philosopher and education guy? Melville is our guy??

Now, go forth and make statements--unless you're asking questions.

http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/01/a-female-senator-explains-why-uptalk-is-part-of-womens-nature/283107/

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2013/12/23/overturning-the-myth-of-valley-girl-speak/?_php=true&_type=blogs&_r=0

http://thesocietypages.org/socimages/2013/12/28/men-and-women-use-uptalk-differently-a-study-of-jeopardy/