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Usenet Posted 21 years ago
Usage
Rising inflection in questions..
Hi all.
A statement in English can be implied to be a question by speaking with a rising inflection. For example, "You are American.", versus "You are American?"
I know this can be done in French. I'm wondering whether this a feature of all languages universally, a little bit like the universal body language of nodding the head meaning yes.
Speakers of Zapotec, Xhosa, Bua, Erzya, and Ga may be able to help.
Stupot
A statement in English can be implied to be a question by speaking with a rising inflection. For example, "You are American.", versus "You are American?"
I know this can be done in French. I'm wondering whether this a feature of all languages universally, a little bit like the universal body language of nodding the head meaning yes.
Speakers of Zapotec, Xhosa, Bua, Erzya, and Ga may be able to help.
Stupot
Top answer
[nq:1]A statement in English can be implied to be a question by speaking with a rising inflection. For example, "You ... [/nq] In my experience, the Dutch don't like statement-as-question.
- [nq:1]A statement in English can be implied to be a question by speaking with a rising inflection.
- For example, "You ...
- [/nq] In my experience, the Dutch don't like statement-as-question.
- " at the end, which fills in for "Isn't it, don't they, can't we," etc.
- The standard form requires inverting the word order at the beginning.
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35 Answers
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[nq:1]A statement in English can be implied to be a question by speaking with a rising inflection. For example, "You ... a feature of all languages universally, a little bit like the universal body language of nodding the head meaning yes.[/nq]
In my experience, the Dutch don't like statement-as-question. If I do it absent-mindedly, they don't grasp I'm asking a question, unless I remember to
In my experience, the Dutch don't like statement-as-question. If I do it absent-mindedly, they don't grasp I'm asking a question, unless I remember to
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[nq:1]Hi all. A statement in English can be implied to be a question by speaking with a rising inflection. For example, "You are American.", versus "You are American?"[/nq]
I wonder how long this can last given the increasing prevalence of the rising inflection in a statement of fact.
Ida Goode-Johnson
I wonder how long this can last given the increasing prevalence of the rising inflection in a statement of fact.
Ida Goode-Johnson
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[nq:2]A statement in English can be implied to be a ... the universal body language of nodding the head meaning yes.[/nq]
[nq:1]In my experience, the Dutch don't like statement-as-question. If I do it absent-mindedly, they don't grasp I'm asking a question, ... told that nodding the head is not "yes" in many places of the world, but I don't have a list.[/nq]
Unca Cece is da Man:
[nq:1]In my experience, the Dutch don't like statement-as-question. If I do it absent-mindedly, they don't grasp I'm asking a question, ... told that nodding the head is not "yes" in many places of the world, but I don't have a list.[/nq]
Unca Cece is da Man:
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Stuart Chapman turpitued:
[nq:1]Hi all. A statement in English can be implied to be a question by speaking with a rising inflection. For ... a feature of all languages universally, a little bit like the universal body language of nodding the head meaning yes.[/nq]
Neither the rising tone nor the head-nodding is universal. For counterexamples to the "rising inflection" hypothesis, just thin
[nq:1]Hi all. A statement in English can be implied to be a question by speaking with a rising inflection. For ... a feature of all languages universally, a little bit like the universal body language of nodding the head meaning yes.[/nq]
Neither the rising tone nor the head-nodding is universal. For counterexamples to the "rising inflection" hypothesis, just thin
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[nq:1]Just recently I was listening to some Singapore English speakers, and was interested to notice that a question was indicated ... a level tone. Certainly it's not rising.) It was quite a surprise to hear it as an import into English.[/nq]
If I remember right, Esperanto has a word that signals a question, but it's placed at the beginning.
I think the word is pronounced "chew", but it's
If I remember right, Esperanto has a word that signals a question, but it's placed at the beginning.
I think the word is pronounced "chew", but it's
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Bob Cunningham turpitued:
[nq:1]If I remember right, Esperanto has a word that signals a question, but it's placed at the beginning. I think the word is pronounced "chew", but it's been a long time. ("Chew vee floogees" = "Did you fly?")[/nq]
You do remember right. The word is "c^u" (little accent mark on top of the c), and literally it means "whether". If it starts the sentence then the c
[nq:1]If I remember right, Esperanto has a word that signals a question, but it's placed at the beginning. I think the word is pronounced "chew", but it's been a long time. ("Chew vee floogees" = "Did you fly?")[/nq]
You do remember right. The word is "c^u" (little accent mark on top of the c), and literally it means "whether". If it starts the sentence then the c
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[nq:1]Come to think of it, the words "did you" at the beginning of an utterance signal that what follows is ... at the beginning of an utterance invariably signals a question. (Is this suggestion acceptable?) Counterexamples, anyone? Today's English only, please.[/nq]
So far, the only counterexample I can think of would be using 'Should we...', where 'Should we...' is replacing 'If we...'.
So far, the only counterexample I can think of would be using 'Should we...', where 'Should we...' is replacing 'If we...'.
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[nq:2]Come to think of it, the words "did you" at ... (Is this suggestion acceptable?) Counterexamples, anyone? Today's English only, please.[/nq]
[nq:1]So far, the only counterexample I can think of would be using 'Should we...', where 'Should we...' is replacing 'If we...'. "Should we go by train instead of car, we will be late." Stupot[/nq]
And I must add, as I was composing the above p
[nq:1]So far, the only counterexample I can think of would be using 'Should we...', where 'Should we...' is replacing 'If we...'. "Should we go by train instead of car, we will be late." Stupot[/nq]
And I must add, as I was composing the above p
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[nq:1]Hi all. A statement in English can be implied to be a question by speaking with a rising inflection. For ... of nodding the head meaning yes. Speakers of Zapotec, Xhosa, Bua, Erzya, and Ga may be able to help. Stupot[/nq]
Are you acquainted with the rising inflection of questions in statements in AmE? For example, some sweet young thing might introduce herself to you by saying: "M
Are you acquainted with the rising inflection of questions in statements in AmE? For example, some sweet young thing might introduce herself to you by saying: "M
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[nq:2]Come to think of it, the words "did you" at ... (Is this suggestion acceptable?) Counterexamples, anyone? Today's English only, please.[/nq]
[nq:1]So far, the only counterexample I can think of would be using 'Should we...', where 'Should we...' is replacing 'If we...'. "Should we go by train instead of car, we will be late."[/nq]
Good one.
But it seems British. Would it ever occ
[nq:1]So far, the only counterexample I can think of would be using 'Should we...', where 'Should we...' is replacing 'If we...'. "Should we go by train instead of car, we will be late."[/nq]
Good one.
But it seems British. Would it ever occ
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