I sometimes listen to NPR (the US public radio network) while I'm
driving to work. It's an equal mix of interesting, boring, lame, and
infuriating.

But lately too many people keep saying "Right?" about the end of every
other sentence. What's going on?

I'm sure that no competant electrical engineer seeds his speech with
constant Right?

We could invent a gadget that shocks people every time they say Right?

On 10/16/2022 23:50, John Larkin wrote:
> I sometimes listen to NPR (the US public radio network) while I'm
> driving to work. It's an equal mix of interesting, boring, lame, and
> infuriating.
>
> But lately too many people keep saying "Right?" about the end of every
> other sentence. What's going on?
>
> I'm sure that no competant electrical engineer seeds his speech with
> constant Right?
>
> We could invent a gadget that shocks people every time they say Right?
>
>

Living at the other side of the globe I catch things like that with
(a huge?) delay as I get it through the media, films etc.
What I notice since not so many years is the overuse of "like",
they say "I am like" instead of "I am saying" etc.
How long has this been?

On Mon, 17 Oct 2022 00:01:17 +0300, Dimiter_Popoff <dp@tgi-sci.com>
wrote:

>On 10/16/2022 23:50, John Larkin wrote:
>> I sometimes listen to NPR (the US public radio network) while I'm
>> driving to work. It's an equal mix of interesting, boring, lame, and
>> infuriating.
>>
>> But lately too many people keep saying "Right?" about the end of every
>> other sentence. What's going on?
>>
>> I'm sure that no competant electrical engineer seeds his speech with
>> constant Right?
>>
>> We could invent a gadget that shocks people every time they say Right?
>>
>>
>
>Living at the other side of the globe I catch things like that with
>(a huge?) delay as I get it through the media, films etc.
>What I notice since not so many years is the overuse of "like",
>they say "I am like" instead of "I am saying" etc.
>How long has this been?

The French version is "n'est pas?"

That's annoying too. The response should be Wrong or Non.

On 2022-10-16 23:28, John Larkin wrote:
> On Mon, 17 Oct 2022 00:01:17 +0300, Dimiter_Popoff <dp@tgi-sci.com>
> wrote:
>
>> On 10/16/2022 23:50, John Larkin wrote:
>>> I sometimes listen to NPR (the US public radio network) while I'm
>>> driving to work. It's an equal mix of interesting, boring, lame, and
>>> infuriating.
>>>
>>> But lately too many people keep saying "Right?" about the end of every
>>> other sentence. What's going on?
>>>
>>> I'm sure that no competant electrical engineer seeds his speech with
>>> constant Right?
>>>
>>> We could invent a gadget that shocks people every time they say Right?
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Living at the other side of the globe I catch things like that with
>> (a huge?) delay as I get it through the media, films etc.
>> What I notice since not so many years is the overuse of "like",
>> they say "I am like" instead of "I am saying" etc.
>> How long has this been?
>
> The French version is "n'est pas?"

That would be "n'est ce pas?", meaning "isn't it?"

The thing that annoys me on French radio is interviewees starting
their replies with "Ecoutez..". Yes, of course he's listening! He
just asked you a frigging question!

Jeroen Belleman

On Sunday, October 16, 2022 at 4:51:12 PM UTC-4, John Larkin wrote:
> I sometimes listen to NPR (the US public radio network) while I'm
> driving to work. It's an equal mix of interesting, boring, lame, and
> infuriating.
>
> But lately too many people keep saying "Right?" about the end of every
> other sentence. What's going on?

They're saying "Do you follow (understand)?"

>
> I'm sure that no competant electrical engineer seeds his speech with
> constant Right?
>
> We could invent a gadget that shocks people every time they say Right?

On Sun, 16 Oct 2022 16:18:40 -0700 (PDT), Fred Bloggs
<bloggs.fredbloggs.fred@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Sunday, October 16, 2022 at 4:51:12 PM UTC-4, John Larkin wrote:
>> I sometimes listen to NPR (the US public radio network) while I'm
>> driving to work. It's an equal mix of interesting, boring, lame, and
>> infuriating.
>>
>> But lately too many people keep saying "Right?" about the end of every
>> other sentence. What's going on?
>
>They're saying "Do you follow (understand)?"

What they mean is "I'm right."

They are self-validating, typically when they are wrong. They don't
pause for response.

On Sunday, October 16, 2022 at 8:11:06 PM UTC-4, John Larkin wrote:
> On Sun, 16 Oct 2022 16:18:40 -0700 (PDT), Fred Bloggs
> <bloggs.fred...@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> >On Sunday, October 16, 2022 at 4:51:12 PM UTC-4, John Larkin wrote:
> >> I sometimes listen to NPR (the US public radio network) while I'm
> >> driving to work. It's an equal mix of interesting, boring, lame, and
> >> infuriating.
> >>
> >> But lately too many people keep saying "Right?" about the end of every
> >> other sentence. What's going on?
> >
> >They're saying "Do you follow (understand)?"
> What they mean is "I'm right."
>
> They are self-validating, typically when they are wrong. They don't
> pause for response.

Not at all- they're simply asking if you understand what they're saying. They're not asking you to confirm what they're saying.

On Sunday, October 16, 2022 at 1:51:12 PM UTC-7, John Larkin wrote:
> I sometimes listen to NPR (the US public radio network) while I'm
> driving to work. It's an equal mix of interesting, boring, lame, and
> infuriating.
>
> But lately too many people keep saying "Right?" about the end of every
> other sentence. What's going on?
>
> I'm sure that no competant electrical engineer seeds his speech with
> constant Right?
>
> We could invent a gadget that shocks people every time they say Right?

That shows lack of confidence on the part of the speaker as they are begging for confirmation of a dubious position. It also shows concern that they MIGHT be politically incorrect and need reassurance that they haven't strayed off of the party line.

On 17-Oct-22 7:50 am, John Larkin wrote:
> I sometimes listen to NPR (the US public radio network) while I'm
> driving to work. It's an equal mix of interesting, boring, lame, and
> infuriating.
>
> But lately too many people keep saying "Right?" about the end of every
> other sentence. What's going on?
>
> I'm sure that no competant electrical engineer seeds his speech with
> constant Right?
>
> We could invent a gadget that shocks people every time they say Right?
>
>

A knew a rampant conspiracy theorist who used to use the word frequently
during discussions at McDonald's.

I think it's a challenge to dare to contradict.

Sylvia.

On 16/10/2022 23:10, Jeroen Belleman wrote:

<snip>
>
> That would be "n'est ce pas?", meaning "isn't it?"
>

I've seen 'nespar' (and 'kesker-say'), I think used seriously.

--
Cheers
Clive

John Larkin wrote:
> I sometimes listen to NPR (the US public radio network) while I'm driving to
> work. It's an equal mix of interesting, boring, lame, and infuriating.
>
> But lately too many people keep saying "Right?" about the end of every other
> sentence. What's going on?

Which non-NPR audio programs do you regularly listen to where people don't say
"Right?"

> I'm sure that no competant electrical engineer seeds his speech with constant
> Right?

There is a lamentable lack of audio content (NPR or otherwise) that features
electrical engineerers, competent or not.

> We could invent a gadget that shocks people every time they say Right?

Your "question" is nothing but a cheap invitation for anti-NPR rants, of which
you have received plenty. Mission accomplished.
>

On 16/10/2022 21:50, John Larkin wrote:
> I sometimes listen to NPR (the US public radio network) while I'm
> driving to work. It's an equal mix of interesting, boring, lame, and
> infuriating.
>
> But lately too many people keep saying "Right?" about the end of every
> other sentence. What's going on?
>
> I'm sure that no competant electrical engineer seeds his speech with
> constant Right?
>
> We could invent a gadget that shocks people every time they say Right?

Right now and round here "For sure" is the new nervous tick at the end
of almost every spoken sentence.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

On Monday, October 17, 2022 at 9:15:54 AM UTC-4, Martin Brown wrote:
> On 16/10/2022 21:50, John Larkin wrote:
> > I sometimes listen to NPR (the US public radio network) while I'm
> > driving to work. It's an equal mix of interesting, boring, lame, and
> > infuriating.
> >
> > But lately too many people keep saying "Right?" about the end of every
> > other sentence. What's going on?
> >
> > I'm sure that no competant electrical engineer seeds his speech with
> > constant Right?
> >
> > We could invent a gadget that shocks people every time they say Right?
> Right now and round here "For sure" is the new nervous tick at the end
> of almost every spoken sentence.

Here it's "as if" - makes no sense at all.

>
> --
> Regards,
> Martin Brown

On 17 Oct 2022 12:50:42 GMT, Robert Latest <boblatest@yahoo.com>
wrote:

>John Larkin wrote:
>> I sometimes listen to NPR (the US public radio network) while I'm driving to
>> work. It's an equal mix of interesting, boring, lame, and infuriating.
>>
>> But lately too many people keep saying "Right?" about the end of every other
>> sentence. What's going on?
>
>Which non-NPR audio programs do you regularly listen to where people don't say
>"Right?"

I have a short drive and only listen to the two PBS stations if either
is interesting. The rest is music and talk/rant.

Some of the book author interviews on PBS are good, and then I buy the
book. Finding The Mother Tree was great. There was one yesterday about
animal senses that sounds cool, fish with electric fields and stuff.

>
>> I'm sure that no competant electrical engineer seeds his speech with constant
>> Right?
>
>There is a lamentable lack of audio content (NPR or otherwise) that features
>electrical engineerers, competent or not.

I get enough of that at work!

>
>> We could invent a gadget that shocks people every time they say Right?
>
>Your "question" is nothing but a cheap invitation for anti-NPR rants, of which
>you have received plenty. Mission accomplished.

Right.

On Mon, 17 Oct 2022 14:15:45 +0100, Martin Brown
<'''newspam'''@nonad.co.uk> wrote:

>On 16/10/2022 21:50, John Larkin wrote:
>> I sometimes listen to NPR (the US public radio network) while I'm
>> driving to work. It's an equal mix of interesting, boring, lame, and
>> infuriating.
>>
>> But lately too many people keep saying "Right?" about the end of every
>> other sentence. What's going on?
>>
>> I'm sure that no competant electrical engineer seeds his speech with
>> constant Right?
>>
>> We could invent a gadget that shocks people every time they say Right?
>
>Right now and round here "For sure" is the new nervous tick at the end
>of almost every spoken sentence.

Wow, f'sure was a 70s thing. It's Baaaack!

Language and fashion and music and food have interesting group
dynamics, overlapping time constants of new/cool and old/boring. Like
viral infections.

We were just discussing the rage for quinoa. It displaced whole
sections of pasta at Safeway, and now it's gone. People will eat
horrible nasty stuff if they think everyone else likes it.

On Mon, 17 Oct 2022 07:51:21 -0700 (PDT), Fred Bloggs
<bloggs.fredbloggs.fred@gmail.com> wrote:

>On Monday, October 17, 2022 at 9:15:54 AM UTC-4, Martin Brown wrote:
>> On 16/10/2022 21:50, John Larkin wrote:
>> > I sometimes listen to NPR (the US public radio network) while I'm
>> > driving to work. It's an equal mix of interesting, boring, lame, and
>> > infuriating.
>> >
>> > But lately too many people keep saying "Right?" about the end of every
>> > other sentence. What's going on?
>> >
>> > I'm sure that no competant electrical engineer seeds his speech with
>> > constant Right?
>> >
>> > We could invent a gadget that shocks people every time they say Right?
>> Right now and round here "For sure" is the new nervous tick at the end
>> of almost every spoken sentence.
>
>Here it's "as if" - makes no sense at all.
>
>>
>> --
>> Regards,
>> Martin Brown

Valley-talk for "hardly". That's old by now.

On 17/10/2022 16:19, John Larkin wrote:
> On Mon, 17 Oct 2022 14:15:45 +0100, Martin Brown
> <'''newspam'''@nonad.co.uk> wrote:
>
>> On 16/10/2022 21:50, John Larkin wrote:
>>> I sometimes listen to NPR (the US public radio network) while I'm
>>> driving to work. It's an equal mix of interesting, boring, lame, and
>>> infuriating.
>>>
>>> But lately too many people keep saying "Right?" about the end of every
>>> other sentence. What's going on?
>>>
>>> I'm sure that no competant electrical engineer seeds his speech with
>>> constant Right?
>>>
>>> We could invent a gadget that shocks people every time they say Right?
>>
>> Right now and round here "For sure" is the new nervous tick at the end
>> of almost every spoken sentence.
>
> Wow, f'sure was a 70s thing. It's Baaaack!

I know. We also have a 70's style energy crisis, cold war back on and in
the UK a new PM so incompetent that they don't even know which way is
up! I fully expect 70's rolling powercuts and a 3 day week this winter.

> Language and fashion and music and food have interesting group
> dynamics, overlapping time constants of new/cool and old/boring. Like
> viral infections.

Curious behaviour of Covid in the UK this year is that it is already
rising rapidly in the community after schools and universities went
back. About 3 months sooner than it did last year.

So far serious cases remain low but the Welsh stats show that they will
surpass the modellers predicted mid winter peak for hospital admissions
next week and are presently running about 60% above the worst case
model! It could be a very tricky winter ahead for the UK.

USA at least has enough domestic gas supply to cope.

> We were just discussing the rage for quinoa. It displaced whole
> sections of pasta at Safeway, and now it's gone. People will eat
> horrible nasty stuff if they think everyone else likes it.

Fashionable grains come and go much like superfoods.

--
Regards,
Martin Brown

On 10/17/2022 18:44, Martin Brown wrote:
> On 17/10/2022 16:19, John Larkin wrote:
>>.....
>
>> We were just discussing the rage for quinoa. It displaced whole
>> sections of pasta at Safeway, and now it's gone. People will eat
>> horrible nasty stuff if they think everyone else likes it.
>
> Fashionable grains come and go much like superfoods.
>

Oh let them chew all the chaff they want so decent foods like
meat etc. stay affordable.

mandag den 17. oktober 2022 kl. 17.19.52 UTC+2 skrev John Larkin:
> On Mon, 17 Oct 2022 14:15:45 +0100, Martin Brown
> <'''newspam'''@nonad.co.uk> wrote:
>
> >On 16/10/2022 21:50, John Larkin wrote:
> >> I sometimes listen to NPR (the US public radio network) while I'm
> >> driving to work. It's an equal mix of interesting, boring, lame, and
> >> infuriating.
> >>
> >> But lately too many people keep saying "Right?" about the end of every
> >> other sentence. What's going on?
> >>
> >> I'm sure that no competant electrical engineer seeds his speech with
> >> constant Right?
> >>
> >> We could invent a gadget that shocks people every time they say Right?
> >
> >Right now and round here "For sure" is the new nervous tick at the end
> >of almost every spoken sentence.
> Wow, f'sure was a 70s thing. It's Baaaack!
>
> Language and fashion and music and food have interesting group
> dynamics, overlapping time constants of new/cool and old/boring. Like
> viral infections.
>
> We were just discussing the rage for quinoa. It displaced whole
> sections of pasta at Safeway, and now it's gone. People will eat
> horrible nasty stuff if they think everyone else likes it.

or if someone famous says it is "healthy"

On 10/16/2022 8:10 PM, John Larkin wrote:
> On Sun, 16 Oct 2022 16:18:40 -0700 (PDT), Fred Bloggs
> <bloggs.fredbloggs.fred@gmail.com> wrote:
>
>> On Sunday, October 16, 2022 at 4:51:12 PM UTC-4, John Larkin wrote:
>>> I sometimes listen to NPR (the US public radio network) while I'm
>>> driving to work. It's an equal mix of interesting, boring, lame, and
>>> infuriating.
>>>
>>> But lately too many people keep saying "Right?" about the end of every
>>> other sentence. What's going on?
>>
>> They're saying "Do you follow (understand)?"

Linguists call them "discourse markers":

<https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Discourse_marker>

> What they mean is "I'm right."

"Another example of an interpersonal discourse marker is the Yiddish
marker 'nu', also used in Modern Hebrew and other languages, often to
convey impatience or to urge the listener to act"

Probably more like that

> They are self-validating, typically when they are wrong. They don't
> pause for response.

And you're an expert in the topic, right?