🔊 Rising speech 🔊 To speak rising

upspeak

2 9.1

A way of speaking when statements end with a rising tone that sounds like a question

noun
/ˈʌpˌspiːk/

: upspeak

It's a far cry from such simple early devices as signifying "upspeak" (the California-based verbal tic of ending sentences on a rise, making them sound like questions—remember?) by simply adding a question mark.
upspeak and vocal fry

Then we call that upspeak, which doesn't fit with what the person is saying.

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Examples

Then we call that upspeak, which doesn't fit with what the person is saying.

Andrew Huberman
No upspeak.

Everyone Is Going to Die (2025)
Young speakers often use upspeak, making their statements sound uncertain.
Many people associate upspeak with a lack of confidence in communication.
In her presentation, she used upspeak to engage the audience better.

How Rising

upspeak

2 9.1

intonation pattern

Specialized

1 5.6

Surface Forms

upspeak singular

upspeaks plural

Morphology

upspeak = speak (semi-transparent) = up + speak

The form clearly combines 'up' and 'speak', but the specialized meaning of speaking with a rising intonation is only partly predictable from the parts.

Etymology

Upspeak combines up ('rising') and speak ('talk'). It names a way of speaking where the voice rises at the end of a sentence, which makes statements sound like questions.