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I was just wondering, is there a verb for the use of uptalk (using an inflection at the end of a statement)? So, something like this:

I've been on several walks recentLY. (inflection at the end of a statement, as if it were a question) (Some would add a question mark after such a statement, to signal the stress, but this is non-standard and confusing except when the sentence is a declarative question.)

Is there a word to express the using of such a style? (i.e. a word that can fill this blank responding to the previous sentence:)

Stop ______!

I've already got "sounding unsure of yourself" or "inflecting your sentences", but it doesn't sound brief (or good enough). When I searched online I couldn't find anything, I just found blogposts that were just trying to convey the message "stop being indecisive".

Edwin Ashworth
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Qwerp-Derp
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  • @EdwinAshworth But I'm asking this for just at the end of a statement. If I was asking for inflections in general, it would be "uptalk", yes. I don't really know how to edit the question, since it seems different from the possible duplicate already. – Qwerp-Derp Oct 08 '16 at 00:35
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    From the duplicate: 'It's called the rising terminal.' – Edwin Ashworth Oct 08 '16 at 00:37
  • @EdwinAshworth So, "stop rising your terminal"? – Qwerp-Derp Oct 08 '16 at 01:12
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    @Qwerp-Derp, probably "stop raising your terminal," since "rise" is an intransitive verb (it doesn't take an object). An aside, although this is technically correct, I doubt many people would understand what you mean (since you had to look up this terminology yourself). – vpn Oct 08 '16 at 02:08
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    @vanderpn This is why I'm requesting a word... – Qwerp-Derp Oct 08 '16 at 07:47
  • "sounding uncertain", "intoning like a question", "cringing and just say what you mean", "your insufferable whimpering" – The Nate Oct 08 '16 at 07:59
  • @TheNate I like "your insufferable whimpering", but it doesn't fit as well into this context... – Qwerp-Derp Oct 08 '16 at 08:00
  • Okay, yeah, that one was a Dark Crystal reference... – The Nate Oct 08 '16 at 08:08
  • I chose the question: "I was just wondering, is there a word for an inflection at the end of a statement? So, something like this:

    This seems like a good place? (inflection at the end of a statement)." If you ask two, don't be surprised if the 'other one' is answered.

     – Edwin Ashworth Oct 08 '16 at 09:06
  • @EdwinAshworth Changed it a bit so that it's less ambiguous. Is it better now? – Qwerp-Derp Oct 08 '16 at 09:10
  • One way to deal with this annoying tick (when other people do it), is to say, Are you asking a question? every time they do this. After a while, they won't speak to you at all. – David Handelman Oct 08 '16 at 14:19

1 Answers1

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"Stop uptalking!"

uptalk

/ˈʌptɔːk

noun

a manner of speaking in which declarative sentences are uttered with rising intonation at the end, as if they were questions.

Stephane
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