Date: Wed, 25 Oct 1995 10:11:35 EDT

From: "Richard A. Spears" 72103.2357[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]COMPUSERVE.COM

Subject: upspeak



M. Lynne Murphy wrote:



but, i'm beginning to wonder--are these all the _same_ intonation

patterns? this question is pretty vague, and productively so:

- are they physically the same intonation patterns?

(and are they really the same as questions?)

- are they the same in their meanings/functions?

- are they the same in their genesis?

- is that genesis a matter of relation between the varieties

or is it a cognitive universal-type thing?



Most of the "upspeak" that I hear seems to be more listing intonation than

question intonation. Her [M.L.M.'s] example:



"and then the firetrucks came? and there was a firedog? and they

put the fire OUT!"



seems to fit that.



In conversations, perhaps it is used to invite someone to continue

the list. But, of course, this is not much different from a question

except that a question expects an answer and listing expects a *continuation*

of the list or one more item to terminate it.



R. Spears