Pretty much the title. Also curious if other languages have similar non-word sounds for negation/affirmation.
In: Other
[removed]
[removed]
[removed]
[removed]
Isn’t nuh-uh mean no? What is uhn-uh
I don’t have a fully satisfying answer, but it seems like neither do any of the main sources. When it comes to finding the source of a word, the Oxford English Dictionary is generally regarded as being the most authoritative. However, referencing sources across the OED, American Heritage Dictionary, and other reputable sources, we don’t have a good etymology (word source) here beyond describing it as “imitative”.
So we know this word comes from imitation… Of something, perhaps around the 1920s according to the OED.
As for what languages have non-words, northern Sweden uses a short inhale through pursed lips to indicate an affirmative in some speakers. [This video](https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=URgdIAz4QNg) demonstrates it.
Additionally Japanese has a similar pair to English uh-huh and nuh-uh or mm-mm, which is written うん and ううん respectively, but are considered words. These are pronounced as general nasal sounds like our mm-mm and the difference is based on length. A short nasal (a sound made by passing air through the nose but not mouth, [ɴ]) is considered affirmative and a long one is negative.
Edit: Just for reference, in English we have a few different things that are largely characterized by these nasally sounds and glottal stops (the stop in the middle of uh-huh). These are mainly differentiated based on intonation. Uh-huh, mm-hmm are equivalent affirmations, and nuh-uh or mm-mm are negations. The mm-mm has a flat tone.
Well the no is a step down in pitch while the yes is a step up in pitch. Combined with facial expressions and movements like nodding the head, the meaning is obvious. I think what matters is, usually saying no results in a bit of negative emotion, and that tends to be expressed with decreasing pitch. While positive emotions tend be be expressed with rising pitch. Add a pinch of nonverbal cues and they just slot right in.
Uh-huh! has an upward inflection which is positive (yes).
Uh-uh has a downward inflection which is negative (no).
Generally these are used to communicate yes or no while someone else is speaking without interrupting them, so they can continue speaking. It’s a signal that you’re listening and communicating but expecting/ allowing them to continue. Speaking words requires the other person to switch from speaking to listening, but body language and grunts allow them to remain in speaking mode.
I feel like it might be the intonation that carries most of the meaning here, I feel like one could vary the ‘sounds’ while keeping intonation and still be understood quite reliably. Affirmative seems to rise toward the end, while negative tends to lower. Beyond that then the rest (the specific combinations of non verbal grunts) is maybe just sort of picked up from each other culturally.
Sounds that rise in pitch are often considered positive, while sounds that decrease in pitch are often viewed as negative.
“Uh-huh” is a low-to-high sound, so is often positive or affirmative. It’s the same for Mm-hmm and mmMMH. Low-to-high
Uh-uh and Mm-mm are both low-to-lower, higher-to-lower sounds. They get deeper as you progress, so they are typically associated with a negative.
This is why you can say, “Uh-huh,” with a pitch that depends, and the person you’re talking to will *immediately* understand you’re being sarcastic.
It’s not so much the *words*, but the *intonation* that matters.
Latest Answers