Date:  Mon, 23 Oct 1995 09:24:53 -0500

From:  Donald Larmouth <LARMOUTD[AT SYMBOL GOES HERE]GBMS01.UWGB.EDU>

Subject: Re: statements spoken as if it were a question



I noticed the same rising intonation for statements from several students

during their seminar paper presentations last spring (both male and female), so

I checked with a colleague who teaches several sections of public address, and

she reports that it is quite common among both sexes. She argues that it occurs

most frequently with students who are hesitant or lack confidence in their

presentation (or perhaps a signal of deference), but I suspect that this is the

effect rather than the cause.