Teacher Discussion Forums

Posted: **Fri Dec 15, 2006 10:21 am**

In the short exchange below, the question type has been called an "uninverted response question" by some researchers. Some of those researchers also claim that such "questions" are more common in AE than in BE. Is that true?

A: John went home.

B: He did?

Some of the same researchers also cite examples such as this:

A: I'll do it.

B: You will?

and claim that, again, such "questions" are more typical of AE. They go on to state that AE reduces the redundancy in questions more than most other variants do.

Posted: **Fri Dec 15, 2006 11:35 am**

This is very common, but I didn't know it was American. What is British? Did he? I rarely put it that way, unless I have a hint of sarcasm or unpleasant surprise in my voice. [/i]

Posted: **Fri Dec 15, 2006 12:16 pm**

jotham wrote: What is British? Did he?

I think we use both forms. Remember, It has not been stated that BE doesn't use "He did", it was stated that the form in more typically AE.

Posted: **Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:31 pm**

In spoken English it's pretty common to make questions simply by using the right intonation pattern, regardless of word order:

He smokes (falling intonation) = statement
He smokes? (rising intonation) = question

Doesn't He did? simply follow the same pattern?

Posted: **Fri Dec 15, 2006 4:46 pm**

I think it's very common in American English. I posted here once to see what the name of that construction was. I was contemplating "rejoinders" at the time, and I forgot what else. It is particularly used to express some kind of surprise, or to check that you heard the sentence correctly.

Metal said he agreed with everything I said.
He did??

Posted: **Fri Dec 15, 2006 6:22 pm**

lolwhites wrote:In spoken English it's pretty common to make questions simply by using the right intonation pattern, regardless of word order:

He smokes (falling intonation) = statement
He smokes? (rising intonation) = question

Doesn't He did? simply follow the same pattern?

Yes, it does, but is it more typical of Ae than of BE? That's the question.

Posted: **Fri Dec 15, 2006 6:32 pm**

Yes, it does, but is it more typical of AE than of BE? That's the question.

What evidence do said researchers cite to support their claim that it's more common in AE than BE? Corpus data?

In any case, it doesn't cause me to raise a British eyebrow when I hear it.

Posted: **Fri Dec 15, 2006 7:45 pm**

What evidence do said researchers cite to support their claim that it's more common in AE than BE? Corpus data?

That, and native speakers from both countries.

Posted: **Fri Dec 15, 2006 10:10 pm**

Can we have the corpus data please, and the number of native speakers in the sample (which I presume is larger than yourself and an American you met at the Sanfermines).

Posted: **Sat Dec 16, 2006 8:49 am**

Stephen Jones wrote: (which I presume is larger than yourself and an American you met at the Sanfermines).

Hmm. Are you looking to get this thread locked? Calm down.

Posted: **Sat Dec 16, 2006 11:19 am**

Corpus and sample size please

Posted: **Sun Dec 17, 2006 9:43 am**

Stephen Jones wrote:Corpus and sample size please

That's better. Now, one source is American English: An Introduction. By Zoltán Kövecses.

So, the question is as was: Do you feel that the examples above are typically AE?

Posted: **Sun Dec 17, 2006 10:18 am**

metal56 wrote:
Stephen Jones wrote:Corpus and sample size please
That's better.

Now, one source is American English: An Introduction. By Zoltán Kövecses.

Another: A Guide to the Varieties of Standard English. By Peter Trudgill, Jean Hannah

So, the question is as was: Do you feel that the examples above are typically AE?

Posted: **Sun Dec 17, 2006 10:31 am**

So, the question is as was: Do you feel that the examples above are typically AE?

If Kövecses, Trudgill and Hannah have done the research and come to that conclusion, then I have no reason to doubt them. It would still be nice to know the actual figures, if you have them.

Posted: **Sun Dec 17, 2006 5:04 pm**

lolwhites wrote:
It would still be nice to know the actual figures, if you have them.
I don't, but I hope they do.