Why say "Period" at the end of a sentence?

Question

This is common for Americans to speak this way. However, don't they teach the English Language in American schools? "Period", does Not mean the end. It refers to a gap or space in time before the next statement. Saying "Period" is like saying "Extra long Full-Colan", or "I'm waiting for you to say your say." Said with varying emotion varies the meaning. Perhaps they should say, "Gotta run, having a period." Better yet, if they just said nothing.

Answer 1

Simple answer? The english language is a mess. There are tons of meanings for everything, above and beyond the rules that have been set out for them. I think the use of the word 'period' at the end of the sentence would therefore be slang.

Answer 2

originally it was.

The Greeks use to put two dots telling people that that was the end the sentence. (three around the 5th century)

and the semi colon was the precursor to the comma...(although the greek didn't use it)(the semi-colon was made much later)

but you get to blame modern advances for the use of the period and the comma because when typewriters were invented the typewriter ribbon was very expensive...and i was common to reuse the typewriter ribbon...the period only used one spot, so when they used the ribbon again (usually upside down going the other direction) they could still get another mark it they used a period

if they use a colon it would come out as a blank (if they ended a sentence it the same place as the last time)

Answer 3

Some of the meanings of 'period' relevant to this question are:
"an end; a mark (.) at the end of a sentence - a full stop, the word is inserted at the end of a sentence to emphasise the finality of the statement."
If this be the case, then the use of 'period' would appear to be proper.
In the USA, it is also common to come across 'That's it' which in most situations means what 'Period' means to convey.

Answer 4

Saying "period" after a sentence usually implies a strong statement with no room for questioning the intent of the speaker. Since a period is the punctuation at the end of a sentence the one speaking is verbally indicating the end of the discussion.

For instance: "I am not going to listen to what you have to say, PERIOD!"

Answer 5

Is there a period at the end of a book? Therefore, it can signal the very end =)

But I'm not defending the saying, it is pretty stupid.