my brother does it now after 20 years living in Texas

it's really very annoying and in the case of yanks I find this part of that article to have a certain ring of truth

Some people believe the phenomenon is used by uncertain speakers hoping to win their audience over. It acts as a constant check that listeners follow - phrasing every sentence, no matter how declarative, is a subconscious begging by the speaker to be reassured. It's a use Robin Lakoff first noticed 40 years ago. "The effect," she wrote, "is as though one were seeking confirmation, though at the same time the speaker may be the only one who has the requisite information."

Posted By: Worzel Scrimmage, Feb 27, 16:16:19