Whether it's called the upward inflection, high-rising terminal or simply "uptalk", the habit of making statements sound like questions is a genuine mystery to me. The habit of ending statements with a stress that makes them sound a bit like questions is one that winds up many of my peers and colleagues, but could it also damage your career prospects as surveys have suggested bosses dislike it. Celebrities in the UK have admitted on the TV that they hate it and countless older people are forever picking up younger people on their use of it but if someone you were interviewing did it could it make you question their competence? After all we have all been in a meeting where it is used by uncertain speakers hoping to win their audience over. It acts as a constant check that listeners follow - phrasing every sentence, no matter how declarative, is a subconscious begging by the speaker to be reassured. Or as with me, makes me question their ability and knowledge of the subject and therefore their overall competence.I've always looked at it as a problem inflicted on the slightly younger generation, the professionals that are less than 10 years out of full time education. I find it insulting as I wonder if the statement is being questioned as to whether or not I understand them or indeed the English language. So, could I actually put up with an employee who all day questions everything they say: "I'm popping out? I'll be half an hour or so?" It actually makes me worry for the next generation as I'm concerned whether these graduated professionals actually believe in themselves or if their confidence is so low that they subconsciously have to question that people understand without saying the immortal words "do you know what I mean?"Frankly I should be used to it, I grew up in the 80's when Neighbours were uptalking every line but in 2014 it has almost become acceptable or fashionable and worryingly being indoctrinated into our children's education. I have experienced several conversations with my son's teachers who great me with a polite "Hello, I'm Ethan's teacher?" - I almost what to ask "are you sure?" but I feel that the sarcasm may be lost or would they not understand that it was a question at all as every sentence they utter seems to be is and maybe they cannot tell the difference.So, English is an evolving language (has been since it's birth) is this something we need to get used to or should our children be lining up for elocution lessons. For me it adds a very easy get out when I'm not a 100% on a candidate, as I could not work with a wannabe Kardashian.
