International media picks up on uptalk

Research on uptalk by Professor Amalia Arvaniti, Head of English Language & Linguistics, has been picked up by the international media, including the BBC and National Geographic, as it breaks myths around ‘valley girl’ talk being a gendered phenomenon. Uptalk is a pitch rise at the end of sentences meant as statements.

Commenting on the research, Professor Arvaniti made a statement that was leapt upon by news sources across the world: ‘Our study busts the stereotype associated with uptalk, that those who speak uptalk actually ask questions instead of making statements, a tendency that is supposed to be linked to insecurity. But native southern California speakers know the difference based on the exact location of the rise start, and the extent to which pitch changes in the rise.’

Her phrase ‘busts the stereotype’ has been repeatedly used in headlines.

Professor Arvaniti conducted the study at the University of California, San Diego, with her former postgraduate student Amanda Ritchart. The findings were presented at the 166th meeting of the Acoustical Society of America in San Francisco.

Here are just some of the news agencies releasing the story:

BBC News
www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-25232387

Daily Mail
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-2519363/Men-started-talk-like-WOMEN-Study-finds-males-rising-pitch-end-sentences.html

The Mirror
www.mirror.co.uk/news/technology-science/science/california-boys-talkiing-like-girls-2901446

Yahoo! UK and Ireland
uk.news.yahoo.com/39-uptalk-39-stereotype-39-busted-39-180004475.html

America

National Geographic
news.nationalgeographic.com/news/is-valley-girl-speak–like–on-the-rise-/

Linguistic Society of America
www.linguisticsociety.org/news/2013/12/06/lsa-members-research-profiled-major-news-media-outlets

New York Magazine
nymag.com/thecut/2013/12/uptalk-is-for-everyone-at-least-in-california.html

University of California, San Diego blog
quote.ucsd.edu/ling/2013/12/06/amanda-ritchart-on-the-radio/

Acoustical Society of America Lay Language Paper
www.acoustics.org/press/166th/4pSCa2-Ritchart.html

National Public Radio’s Science Friday
www.sciencefriday.com/segment/12/06/2013/speech-science-tongue-twisters-and-valley-girls.html