To hate it when people go up at the end of their sentences even when it’s not a question?

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Listening to R4 while getting ready for work. There was a segment on jackdaws and them being able to count. Woman researcher sounded like an Australian without the accent. She went up at the end of every clause, never mind sentence, like this: so jackdaws mob together? Then they call to other jackdaws? And It’s dangerous for other jackdaws to join the mob? (Poetic licence on content but you get my drift). Why? What on earth has led to this bizarre phenomenon?

Yes, it sounded like she was asking for confirmation that she was right, which as the appointed expert was odd.

I have no issue with this as part of the Australian accent - but she was clearly British! I don’t like it. My sister came back with an Aussie accent from a year’s travel with an Aussie, but quickly lost it upon mass piss taking. My own daughter has a neutral accent and does a great local accent for school because her bezzie mate has a strong regional accent. doing an accent is fine as long as you know when to switch it off if it isn’t your own.

This wasn’t an accent. It was part of that culture of what I now know has a name! I am just intrigued to know why this has developed linguistically. And I do hate everything sounding like a question - makes everything you say sound equivocal thus reducing its impact. This morning I found it difficult to accept what she was saying because it didn’t sound like she meant it herself.

It's very common in the Westcountry as part of the accent. And despite the theory that it's because people have spent too much time watching Neighbours I would think it's far more likely to have travelled in the opposite direction i.e. from Cornwall to Australia with the miners.

I think I might do this but I’m Welsh and I think many of us do, sorry (not sorry) if it offends.

My DP also does it (not Welsh) and I rather like it. I think it’s rather silly if it vexes anyone.

YANBU-When it is part of an accent it is fine and natural sounding. When it is done in that whiny, slightly affected way which is common now in some circles it grates like fingernails on a blackboard.

Oh and btw @TulipsTulipsTulips isn't it ironic that you are attacking the OP for passing judgement in a way which comes across as very sanctimonious and judgemental?

I often find the people who complain about other people's linguistic quirks are the ones who could do with looking at their own use of English before throwing those stones. It's a bit more than a "linguistic quirk". IF you're not used to it, and use a rising inflexion to indicate a question, then a rising inflexion in a statement of fact gives a second while you're puzzling about whether it's meant to be a question. Yes, what they're saying is comprehensible, but you don't follow the conversation quite so easily.

Is vocal fry that Made in Chelsea croak thing?

My DH does this since our DD (9) started. I want to strangle him everytime! Why?? It doesn't make anything any clearer or more precise, just bloody annoying!

I’m Australian and it irritates me. When people do it I ask ‘are you telling me or asking me’?

Oh dear. I'm Kiwi. It's a very bad linguistic habit of ours, I'm afraid! I don't think I do it - but you can never hear your own verbal tics and quirks! My daughters don't do it, so maybe not.

OP, did she also begin every answer with "So"? Most experts interviewed on Radio 4 do and that winds me up too.

I don't like it when its fake but sometimes its part of an accent so obviously that's ok.

I understand uptalk is annoying because it’s confusing for the listener but what’s wrong with vocal fry?