Ending you sentence in a high note and the Americanisation of the Irish accent

v638sg7k1a92bx · 04-02-2019 03:08PM #1

Ending your sentence in a high note seems to be the default phonetic setting these days. Does anyone else notice this when they're talking to people, I've become paranoid that I might be doing it myself without noticing. I originally thought it was some type of insecurity issue that people had but it seems that everyone is doing it. I never considered this to be part of the north American vernacular but how has it become so widespread in Ireland?

Separately, on my way into work last week there were two early twenty college students and I swear they speaking with at 90% American accent. I wasn't sure if they were taking the piss at first but they kept it up, talking about they're class, subjects etc in an American accent!!!

RMAOK · 04-02-2019 03:11PM

This does my head in :mad:
Think it was called the mid Atlantic twang for a while - absolutely hate it tbh. Everything is phrased like a question. :mad:

Mint Sauce · 04-02-2019 03:12PM

In a high note? Do you mean saying something positive, or voice rasing a pitch at the end?

Very much doubt its a new thing, as people were telling me 10/15 years ago, my voice raised at the end of my sentences, possibly down to a mix of my accents. I have also observed it in a few of my friends and family as well.

clintondaly · 04-02-2019 03:12PM

That's what people get for having watched too much Barney

sbsquarepants · 04-02-2019 03:16PM

And this one time, in band camp....

I can not stand it, fúck right off you pseudo sceptic, valley girl wannabe shower of dicks!:mad:

I remember years ago being hit on by this fairly hot Calafornian girl and having to actually leave the pub - when single, I'd get up on cracked plate but this girls accent was hurting my very soul, I just couldn't bear it.

If she had of just shut the hell up, there'd have been no problem, but nooo!!!

Foggy Jew · 04-02-2019 03:18PM

Paschal Donohoe..... He sounds more of a caricature than Mario Rosenstock could ever make him

04-02-2019 03:18PM

It drives me mad too - it sounds like the speaker isn't confident in what they're saying - but I suspect it's supposed to endear you to someone, as in make them seem 'insecure' in a cute way - CAN'T STAND IT.

Tell me how · 04-02-2019 03:20PM

Accents are extremely entertaining. I find it fascinating that we can have such variety here in areas separated by only 60 miles or so. Think Cork versus Limerick for example, or Cork/Waterford which is an even shorter distance.
There is something about this one which does seem to get on peoples nerves. I've heard it being quite common amongst some younger people around SCD.
Not sure if people grow out of it here or if it's just such people are still quite young.

But, before we judge accents too harshly, we'd do well to remember that many of us sound like we are in an episode of 'the Hardy Bucks' or 'The Young Offenders' which must have any foreign people who see these shows wondering just where we learnt to speak.

selwyn froggitt · 04-02-2019 03:21PM

RMAOK wrote: »

This does my head in :mad:
Think it was called the mid Atlantic twang for a while - absolutely hate it tbh. Everything is phrased like a question. :mad:

"Be a good yank, turn around and go home"

ohfa6muwtsvkc1 · 04-02-2019 03:21PM

Sullivan Lazy Tangerine wrote: »

Separately, on my way into work last week there were two early twenty college students and I swear they speaking with at 90% American accent. I wasn't sure if they were taking the piss at first but they kept it up, talking about they're class, subjects etc in an American accent!!!

They might have been Americans? Or Canadians? Tbh in the new world, I think this is a good thing. Regional differences in accents can cause lots of trouble, misunderstandings and often lead to discrimination. The proliferation of Youtube will standardize (see what I did there?) spoken English, and I for one welcome it.

Cushie Butterfield · 04-02-2019 03:27PM

Uptalk/rising intonation- blame Neighbours/Home & Away. End each sentence as it’s a question. Very annoying.

DEFTLEFTHAND · 04-02-2019 03:31PM

I presume that most of these people grow out of the habit once they leave college?

The Pheasant2 · 04-02-2019 03:32PM

Sullivan Lazy Tangerine wrote: »

Separately, on my way into work last week there were two early twenty college students and I swear they speaking with at 90% American accent. I wasn't sure if they were taking the piss at first but they kept it up, talking about they're class, subjects etc in an American accent!!!

They could well have been actual Americans - there are a **** load in UCD on exchange; and they're more likely to be overheard due to their general lacking of an inside voice

The Pheasant2 · 04-02-2019 03:34PM

Cushie Butterfield wrote: »

Uptalk/rising intonation- blame Neighbours/Home & Away. End each sentence as it’s a question. Very annoying.

Yes the whole upspeak thing is very prevalent amongst Australians for whatever reason

sbsquarepants · 04-02-2019 03:37PM

Zayden Nervous Lump wrote: »

They might have been Americans? Or Canadians? Tbh in the new world, I think this is a good thing. Regional differences in accents can cause lots of trouble, misunderstandings and often lead to discrimination. The proliferation of Youtube will standardize (see what I did there?) spoken English, and I for one welcome it.

Was talking to a neighbour there about the madness kids watch on you tube a while back, she has a kid around the same age as mine (5 - 6)
She says sure I was talking to him (her son) the other day and he just gets up and walks off saying "don't forget to leave a comment down below":D

Greengrant · 04-02-2019 03:38PM

Any Irish person who says "Mom" deserves a dinner date with Ted Bundy.

Boom_Bap · 04-02-2019 03:40PM

Greengrant wrote: »

Any Irish person who says "Mom" deserves a dinner date with Ted Bundy.

Ted never killed anyone he had dinner with.

Also, there is not just a single American accent

Day Lewin · 04-02-2019 03:41PM

Saw an article once, and the author claimed quite persuasively that it could all be traced to "Friends"

Apparently before 3/4 of the world's teenagers watched that show, the upwards-ending-sentence was not heard in the other English-speaking countries.

Not to mention A B Ceez and X Y Zees.

And when did the expression "I said..." get replaced by "I'm like..." ???

Tell me how · 04-02-2019 03:42PM

Whatever about the mid-Atlantic twang spoken about above, what I find really irritating is the vocal fry as practised by the Kardashians and the likes.

ohfa6muwtsvkc1 · 04-02-2019 03:49PM

Greengrant wrote: »

Any Irish person who says "Mom" deserves a dinner date with Ted Bundy.

Why do you think that is an Americanism? Are you that unaware of the linguist traiditons of your own country?

orourkeda1977 · 04-02-2019 03:52PM

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_rising_terminal

The Tetrarch · 04-02-2019 03:54PM

Day Lewin wrote: »

And when did the expression "I said..." get replaced by "I'm like..." ???

"So, I was saying" ......... is another one.

bodice ripper · 04-02-2019 03:56PM

Some of us actually have this accent and are sick to the back teeth of dealing with middle aged men, who believe they are the salt of the earth, thinking they've made some insightful observation when they have you cornered in a pub.

Happily, I don't have the rising tone thing.

zapitastas · 04-02-2019 03:57PM

Zayden Nervous Lump wrote: »

They might have been Americans? Or Canadians? Tbh in the new world, I think this is a good thing. Regional differences in accents can cause lots of trouble, misunderstandings and often lead to discrimination. The proliferation of Youtube will standardize (see what I did there?) spoken English, and I for one welcome it.

I think a lot of regional accents are on the way out. In some cases it might not be such a bad thing but it will be fairly dull to have everyone sounding like they are on an American sitcom. The one thing I have a strong dislike for though is the accent of people from the north once they make it onto the PGA. Is sore on the ears, American with a hint of northern

Fr_Dougal · 04-02-2019 03:59PM

Greengrant wrote: »

Any Irish person who says "Mom" deserves a dinner date with Ted Bundy.

It’s a popular saying down in Kerry, derived from the Irish word for mother.

greenspurs · 04-02-2019 04:02PM

the little b0ll0xes are watching sooo much sh1te 'youtubers' with American accents , they are turning into them !

Greengrant · 04-02-2019 04:03PM

Fr_Dougal wrote: »

It’s a popular saying down in Kerry, derived from the Irish word for mother.

There are also many who say it because they heard it watching the Kardashians or some other American tv show.

SexBobomb · 04-02-2019 04:06PM

I have noticed this half American accent (or rather a lack of an Irish accent) in younger children too, it must come from the American kids shows on tv.

Bigbagofcans · 04-02-2019 04:06PM

Do you even lift brah?

04-02-2019 04:10PM

its this race to the bottom nowadays. To be irish is to sound American etc. I bleeding hate that question taking upper inflection having orange county sounding ****E!!!!

you hear it now on almost all kids on irish TV as well, spawned by generation Disney FFS! Even my boss speaks this way and he's in his 50's, I do want to gore my own eyes out when I hear it. and t his MY MOM shyte, I remember hearing some dope on first date saying it over and over , jasus wept!

topper75 · 04-02-2019 04:12PM

It sounds patronizing, as though they don't trust you to be intelligent enough to understand them. They appear to be checking that you are still with them at the end of every sentence. :-)

I find it off-putting and often distracts from the message. My mind drifts instead to "why are they talking in this silly way?".

Ending you sentence in a high note and the Americanisation of the Irish accent

Comments