Why have American English speakers adopted the Mexican intonation?

Question

I read a lot of anti-immigrant chatter here, but I notice that more and more Americans are using the same tonal "sentence end rise" typical of Mexican street Spanish. Calling it "Valley-speak" may fool some people, but discerning polyglots can spot it immediately. It is particularly prevalent in young people and I've detected it on both coasts. The only other instance of this type of intonation occurs in certain Irish populations, but that variation is developed locally, without outside influence..

Is this one a precursor of things to come, ese?

Chukie411 & others:
I'm sure it is not intentional. In that sense language is organic and it evolves.
The intonation I refer to is when the end of a sentence is said in a higher tone than the beginning. It's one of the characteristis of California "Valley talk." You can also hear it in 90% of teen movies.
Be the way, Spanish & English are 2 of my favorite languages, so I'm OK regardless of the outcome.

Christopher: It can't make sense if you don't read it. I'm referring to intonation, not particular phrases of vocabulary.
And you're asking ME to use English?? Hee Hee.

Rosebuds & whatdoiknow:
I never said I disapprove of the change. I'm fine with it.

Answer 1

JAT, the rising intonation at the end of declarative sentences (called HRT, or high-rising intonation, in linguistics) has been present in dialects of English a long time, I believe. I have actually performed a study on HRT in American English myself and am therefore aware that it's also known to be present in Australian English and New Zealand English, not just Irish English as you've mentioned. Perhaps you only started listening for it recently. That's why it's important to test such ideas with actual linguistic data, not just anecdotal observation.

A study to truly discover whether this is true would be some sort of longitudinal study where the same people, or perhaps people of the same area, were recorded under similar conditions a certain amount of time (say a couple of years) apart to discover whether their intonation patterns had changed.

I think your idea that this intonation pattern is somehow coming from Mexican Spanish is, frankly, way off. In fact, your idea that you have detected HRT on both coasts goes against that, because speakers on the east coast are more likely to be influenced by Cuban and/or Puerto Rican Spanish than Mexican Spanish. You also mentioned yourself that in Irish English this intonation is believed to have originated in itself. Why would you assume another origin for American English then? I should also mention that my study was done in an area of the country that isn't on either of the coasts, and I found it in that part of the country as well.

I should also mention that HRT is commonly used across many dialects of English in certain kinds of questions. So it's not a new phenomenon to English. What's "new" (although I'm arguing that it really isn't new) is using it for declarative sentences. So you could just as easily argue that the intonation is simply moving from a different sentence type, not from another language.

I am willing to believe that there is a possibility of things like intonation washing over onto a language from another language when languages are in contact, but it seems like you've already made the conclusion that language contact must be the source of the HRT that you're looking at, without getting your ducks in a row first.

No offense, but I just don't buy it. I'm not saying it's not possible, but there are a number of other appealing explanations.

As far as being anti-anti-immigrant, however, I couldn't agree with you more. We need more of your kind of sense about that issue here on Yahoo! Answers, if I do say so myself.

Answer 2

Yes, that's not surprising.
Boston has been influenced by 19th century Irish accents
The New York accent is based on an old Dutch accent (the Dutch were the first colonizers)
The Southern accent has roots in 17th century Irish accent
ND, Minnesota have been influenced by Scandinavian accents
Given the fact that the first colonizers in CA were Spanish, and CA is heavily Mexican to this day, that shouldn't surprise you.

Answer 3

Uuumm I don't know what any of that means, but I am from Texas and we are greatly influenced by Mexican culture. Thank goodness for the legal Mexican Americans that are here, because I would starve to death were it not for the fine Mexican food restaurants found all over this great state.

Answer 4

I have no idea what you just said. However, America is a land of language borrowing, and I think everyone would agree that Hispanic culture is influencing us. So, if you think we sound like the Mexicans, then I would say it is not surprising as well as unintentional.

Answer 5

I have a sister in law in Texas that uses that. I asked her if she was making fun of the Spanish speakers. She acted like she was not even aware. It's catching!

Answer 6

My question is why are there so many haters in California...a state that was founded and once owned by Mexico...they live in cities with Spanish names...Banish all haters!! Sorry I didnt answer your question...my fingers would not stop typing!!

Answer 7

You have the same situation with the black street talk. For some reason, kids and others find it "cool" and start imitating. Ridiculous.

Answer 8

Are you suggesting that illegal immigrants should stay because we use one of their sayings? Does not really make too much sense, speak English.

Answer 9

yeah, it has been prevelent in the UK for yonks, particularly since the introduction on Aussie soaps on the telly

Answer 10

Que?