# Weird vocal tic--why is it spreading? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [June 19, 2013, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332 "2013-06-19T05:27:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332/1 "2013-06-19T05:27:36Z")
I’ve noticed a lot recently a weird vocal tic. The person speaks in the normal tone of voice for most of the sentence, then abruptly changes their pitch upwards at the end. (Think [Jo Anne Worley](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJr7lI3m-R4).) Why is this vocal quirk becoming so popular lately? Does it have a proper name? And does it annoy others as much as it annoys me? ---
**Author:** ![Dr.Strangelove](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dr.strangelove/32/6613_2.png) [@Dr.Strangelove](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dr.Strangelove)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 5:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332/2 "2013-06-19T05:32:42Z")
[High rising terminal](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_rising_terminal) ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 7:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332/3 "2013-06-19T07:14:12Z")
That’ll be the Australians? Always sounding like they are asking a question? Doesn’t seem to be thing in the UK? It may habit due to generations of Aussies kids having to ask and answer questions of inept marsupials that watch Timmy fall down a mineshaft without lifting a fucking claw and then have the nerve to come home and tell Billy the cowhand like some fucking furry hero? Bouncy bastards? ---
**Author:** ![panache45](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/panache45/32/64_2.png) [@panache45](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panache45)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 11:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332/4 "2013-06-19T11:58:54Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > (Think [Jo Anne Worley](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SJr7lI3m-R4).) How is this an example of it? Anyway . . . it’s the “moronic interrogative,” and I think it started with the “Valley Girls” back in the 80s. It’s definitely not something new. ---
**Author:** ![Harmonious\_Discord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/h/74df32/32.png) [@Harmonious\_Discord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Harmonious_Discord)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 12:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332/5 "2013-06-19T12:02:08Z")
I hate it and won’t listen to it. ---
**Author:** ![AncientHumanoid](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ancienthumanoid/32/278_2.png) [@AncientHumanoid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AncientHumanoid)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 12:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332/6 "2013-06-19T12:45:56Z")
When used with the Girl Growl, it’ll stop zombies dead\* in their tracks. \*yeah, I know ---
**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332/7 "2013-06-19T14:43:30Z")
Better get used to it; it’s spreading. I have no explanation. But languages change and maybe this is an example. Language change usually starts with one person (nuckular) and then spreads to others and takes over. ---
**Author:** ![AllShookDown](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/d9b06d/32.png) [@AllShookDown](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AllShookDown)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 3:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332/8 "2013-06-19T15:23:08Z")
When I opened this thread I was sure it’d be from at least five years ago. I’m surprised you’re just noticing this now. I’ve always called it “uptalk.” From what I understand, the new vocal quirk is “vocal fry.” Is vocal fry the same thing as “girl growl?” I work with a guy who does the vocal fry and it drives me nuts. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 3:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332/9 "2013-06-19T15:40:02Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > Why is this vocal quirk becoming so popular lately? Presumably because you don’t live in a region where it became popular a long time ago. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 4:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332/10 "2013-06-19T16:23:32Z")
> [@hogarth](#): > > Presumably because you don’t live in a region where it became popular a long time ago. Pretty much. It must be regional, as I’ve noticed uptalk outside the Valley Girl stereotype speech since the mid-90s or so. There’s even threads on the Dope dating to 2000 mentioning it. How lucky you are to have avoided it for so long. Drives me crazy. ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 4:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332/11 "2013-06-19T16:38:03Z")
Are we sure the OP is referring to uptalk? The Jo Ann Worley reference would seem to indicate the voice going _way_ up at the end of a statement, like into another octave. ---
**Author:** ![Troppus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/a587f6/32.png) [@Troppus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Troppus)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 4:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332/12 "2013-06-19T16:47:19Z")
Here is a Kardashian sister parody from SNL which demonstrates both vocal fry and high-rising terminal. [http://24wired.tv/20523/kardashian-sisters-parody-on-saturday-night-live-snl69691/](http://24wired.tv/20523/kardashian-sisters-parody-on-saturday-night-live-snl69691/) ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_Morris](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/peter_morris/32/359_2.png) [@Peter\_Morris](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_Morris)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 4:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332/13 "2013-06-19T16:56:04Z")
[AQI](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OluCvL0lRnI) ---
**Author:** ![Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/5daacb/32.png) [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ellis_Aponte_Jr)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 4:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332/14 "2013-06-19T16:57:58Z")
But I’m guessing this is not about high-rising terminal - but rather the thing that happens 58 seconds into this clip when Jo Ann Worley stresses the word “little”" [![]( " - YouTube") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-8TuTiPnwk) ---
**Author:** ![BigT](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bigt/32/12044_2.png) [@BigT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BigT)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 11:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332/15 "2013-06-19T23:23:28Z")
> [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](#): > > But I’m guessing this is not about high-rising terminal - but rather the thing that happens 58 seconds into this clip when Jo Ann Worley stresses the word “little”" > > [http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-8TuTiPnwk](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t-8TuTiPnwk) That’s just using a higher pitch for the word “little.” We associate higher pitches with smaller things. Do we have better examples? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 19, 2013, 11:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332/16 "2013-06-19T23:40:23Z")
> [@Ellis\_Aponte\_Jr](#): > > Are we sure the OP is referring to uptalk? The Jo Ann Worley reference would seem to indicate the voice going _way_ up at the end of a statement, like into another octave. Ah… I didn’t/don’t know who Jo Ann Worley is. After listening to what’s linked to in the OP, I have no idea. I’ve never noticed anyone doing that kind of operatic embellishment on a word at the end of a sentence (unless they were trying to mimic some sort of funny heavy-metal vocals inflection). That’s certainly different than “uptalk.” ---
**Author:** ![installLSC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/54ee81/32.png) [@installLSC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/installLSC)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 12:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332/17 "2013-06-20T00:08:17Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > I’ve never noticed anyone doing that kind of operatic embellishment on a word at the end of a sentence (unless they were trying to mimic some sort of funny heavy-metal vocals inflection). That’s certainly different than “uptalk.” Actually that’s exactly what I was referring to. It’s always done in a comedic manner, and is not really intended to emphasize a specific word in a sentence. ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332/18 "2013-06-20T00:58:33Z")
> [@installLSC](#): > > Actually that’s exactly what I was referring to. It’s always done in a comedic manner, and is not really intended to emphasize a specific word in a sentence. Yeah, got no clue then, as few people I know can do that kind of vocal embellishment. ---
**Author:** ![CookingWithGas](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cookingwithgas/32/485_2.png) [@CookingWithGas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CookingWithGas)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 2:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332/19 "2013-06-20T02:17:38Z")
> [@pulykamell](#): > > Ah… I didn’t/don’t know who Jo Ann Worley is. She became popular as a regular on the first few seasons of Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In, which ran 1967-73. Better known stars from the show are Lily Tomlin (who did a telephone operator character) and Goldie Hawn (who did a dumb blonde character). ---
**Author:** ![AaronX](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/7bcc69/32.png) [@AaronX](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AaronX)\ **Post date:** [June 20, 2013, 5:22am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332/20 "2013-06-20T05:22:34Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > That’ll be the Australians? > Always sounding like they are asking a question? > Doesn’t seem to be thing in the UK? > It may habit due to generations of Aussies kids having to ask and answer questions of inept marsupials that watch Timmy fall down a mineshaft without lifting a fucking claw and then have the nerve to come home and tell Billy the cowhand like some fucking furry hero? > > Bouncy bastards? I think I know what you’re talking about? I didn’t know it was an Australian trait, though? [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/weird-vocal-tic-why-is-it-spreading/661332.md?page=2)