THEBIZARREEFFECTOFUPTALKONLISTENINGMEMORY

TheBizarrenessEffectandUptalkontheRecallofSpokenSentences
NicholasPistoia,LucaCastellotto,andIsaacSmith
UniversityofCalifornia,SantaCruz

THEBIZARREEFFECTOFUPTALKONLISTENINGMEMORY

Abstract
OurgroupofthreeundergraduatestudentsattendingtheUniversityofCalifornia,Santa
CruzstudiedtheeffectsofuptalkspeechpitchpatternsonlisteningmemoryinrelationtoThe
BizarrenessEffect.Wepredictedthatbymanipulatingthebizarrenesseffectthroughtheuseof
Uptalk,wewouldeffectivelycounteractthepositivememoryresultofthebizarrenesseffect.We
usedabetweensubjectvariablefortheUptalkconditionandawithinsubjectsvariableforthe
listofsentencestheparticipantslistenedto.Weaskedparticipantsdownallthenounstheycould
rememberfromthesentencesandwescoredtheirperformancesbasedonthepercentageof
nounsinthesentencestheywereabletoremember.Participantsscoredsignificantlylowerin
recallforthebizarresentencesundertheUptalkcondition,andtheUptalkconditiontrended
lowerinrecallthanthenonUptalkcondition.Whilethesefindingsprovideimplicationstowards
theeffectivenessofspeechpitchincomprehensionandchallengesTheBizarrenessEffect,this
studydemonstratestheimportanceofastrongstudydesign.

THEBIZARREEFFECTOFUPTALKONLISTENINGMEMORY

TheBizarrenessEffectandUptalkontheRecallofSpokenSentences

IntodaysInformationAge,itisimperativethatwemastertheeffectivenessoflanguage.
Nomatterhowmuchmorewerelyontexting,email,orinstantmessaging,thespokenwordwill
nevergoaway,andisstillconstantlyevolving.Becauseofthis,ourgroupdecidedtoinvestigate
thecognitivefunctionsandeffectsofspokenlanguage.Spokenlanguagereliesondiscourse
betweenthespeakerandthelistener,andwedecidedtospecificallystudytherecalleffectsof
listeningmemoryundercertainconditions.
OnewayinwhichlanguageisevolvingisaphenomenonwhichmostAmericans,and
especiallyCalifornians,recognizeasValleyGirlSpeakthelinguistictonalshiftthatconsists
ofarisingpitchattheendofstatementsorcertainwordsinastatement(Tomlinson&FoxTree,
2011).ThereisafiercedebategoingoninoursocietyoverwhetherornotValleyGirlSpeak
isalinguisticstainontheEnglishlanguageorwhetheritisjustanothernaturalwayinwhich
languageevolves.Whileonacollegecampus,inacoffeeshop,oronthestreet,itiscommonto
hearagroupoffriendsspeakingwiththisintonationortohearaseparategroupmockingthe
peoplewhospeakwiththisintonation.Language,aconstantlyevolvingmeansof
communication,isalwayspronetoshiftsandchanges.WhatistheroleofuptalkinEnglish
communication?IsitreflectiveoftrendstocomeinthefutureofspeakingEnglish,orisit
simplyacolloquialfeaturethatactuallyinhibitspartsoflisteningcomprehensionattheexpense
ofsocialprestige?Thisinspiredourgrouptoresearchthelisteningcomprehensionandmemory
effectsofthislinguisticphenomenon.

THEBIZARREEFFECTOFUPTALKONLISTENINGMEMORY

RelevantBackground

ValleyGirlSpeak,orknownmoreacademicallyasUptalk,isalegitimateand

interesting,yetunderstudied,phenomenoninspokenEnglish.Uptalkhasbeenshowntoserve
multiplesemanticrolesandgivesextrainformationinawordifitisused,butUptalkalsois
modifiedbythelistenersperceptionofthespeaker'smentalstate(Tomlinson&FoxTree,
2011).Whileuptalkhasnotyetbeenresearchedextensively,manystudieshaveshownthe
importanceofspeechpitchandemotionalresponse.Breitensteinetal.(2001)foundina
crossculturalstudyofGermanandEnglishthatspeechwithlesspitchvariationsoundmoresad
tothelistener,whilehighervariationinspeechpitchmadelistenersthinkthepersonspeaking
wasangry,frightenedorexcited.Thiscouldsuggestthatthespeechpitchthatoccursinuptalk
couldleadtoconfusionordistractionaboutthespeakersemotions.
ThequestionofthecognitiveandlinguisticpropertieswithUptalkalsohighlights
differencesinspeechbetweenmenandwomen,anddifferingculturalperceptionofspeechin
gender.Asthecolloquialtermforthisphenomenonsuggests,ValleyGirlSpeakistypically
associatedwithyoungerwomenwithahighersocioeconomicstatus.McFarland(2007)
researchedthedifferencesbetweenpowerfulandpowerlessspeechinjobinterviews,andfound
aninteractionbetweenthegenderspeakingandtrustworthiness,weakness,andbelievability.
Thisresearchhighlightsculturalprejudiceontheperceivedgenderassociatedwiththespeech.
Whileourstudydidnotdirectlyaddressissueswithculturalorgenderprejudice,anyresearchon
uptalkcancontributetotheanalysisontheprestigeofthisphenomenon.

OurgroupdecidedthatTheBizarrenessEffectwouldbeaninterestingsecondvariable

throughwhichwecouldfindtheeffectsuptalkhasonmemory.Geracietal.(2013)foundin

THEBIZARREEFFECTOFUPTALKONLISTENINGMEMORY

theirresearchthatwhenbizarrewordsarelistedinsuccession,participantsmemorizedless
sentencesthanwhenbizarresentencesweremixedwithmorenormalsentencesonalist,and
scoredevenlowerwhenthelistconsistedofonlynormalsentences.Thatstudy,however,was
onlyconductedinwrittenlanguage,butneverthelessrevealedthatthebizarreorunexpected
standsouttousinourbrainsuchthatwewillrememberabizarresentencebetter,atleastinthe
shortterm,thanacomparativelynormalsentence.WhilethestudyofGeracietal.(2013)tested
participantsreadingmemory,theimportanceoflisteningcomprehensionandaudiomemoryis
paramounttoeffectivecommunicationandtheeffectivenessofverbalcommunicationisdirectly
linkedtoeffectivelisteningcomprehensionandmemory,andworthexploringwithfurtherstudy
(Adlof&Alonzo,2014).Becauseofthis,webelievedthatTheBizarrenessEffectwouldbea
goodmeasuringdevicetoseehowuptalkaffectslisteningmemory.
StatementofPurpose

BystudyingthecognitiveeffectsofUptalkinspeech,wecanlearnmoreaboutthe

cognitiveprocessesaboutauditorymemoryandlisteningcomprehension.Byusinguptalkto
furtherstudytheBizarrenessEffect,wecanmakeprogressontheunderstandingofhowwe
processandrememberthebizarre,orevenfindoutmoreofwhatthebizarreevenis.
Additionally,wecananalyzetheoutcomesofourstudytolearnmoreaboutresearchandstudy
designinordertoimproveourunderstandingofhowaneffectivestudyiscreated.Througha
biggerandwiderreachinglens,wecanpossiblyconfrontcertainprejudicesthatcomewith
languageprestigeinaspecificsocioeconomicclassorgender.Conversely,ifuptalkhasshowna
significantnegativeimpactonlisteningcomprehension,wecantakemeasurestolimititsuseor
informthosewhouseittoincreasetheeffectivenessofverbalcommunication.

THEBIZARREEFFECTOFUPTALKONLISTENINGMEMORY

Hypothesis
IfUptalkisadistractingmannerofspeech,thepreviouslydemonstratedresultsofThe
BizarrenessEffectwillbesignificantlylesspronounced.

Predictions
AsthedataconductedbyGeracietal.(2013)shouldsuggest,listenerswhohearbizarre
sentencesshouldscorethehighestintheamountofsentencecontentrecalled.However,we
predict,byusingthepercentageofnounsinthesentencesrecalledasthedependentvariable,an
interactiontooccurbetweenthosewhoparticipatedsuchthatthosewhoparticipatedinthe
controlornonUptalkconditionwillscoreinfavorofTheBizarrenessEffect,whilethoseinthe
uptalkconditionofthestudywillnotshowanincreasedrecallwiththebizarresentences.Ifthis
weretruethiswouldshowthatUptalkinterfereswiththeBizarrenessEffect,whichwould
demonstratethatUptalkhasanegativeimpactonauditorycognition,andthattheBizarreness
Effectdoesnotdemonstratesuchpowerfulresultsshowninpreviouslyuntestedconditions.

Methods
Participants
Inthisexperiment,weusedourfellowclassmatesinourCognitiveLabseniorseminar
courseasparticipants,ledbyProfessorBenjaminStorm.Allofthe27participantsattended
UniversityofCalifornia,SantaCruz.Theaverageageoftheparticipantswas22.7years.This
samplerepresentsapopulationofundergraduatecollegestudentsstudyinginthefieldof
cognitivescienceorpsychology.

THEBIZARREEFFECTOFUPTALKONLISTENINGMEMORY

Design

Thisexperimentutilizeda2x2experimentaldesign.ThereweretwoIndependent

Variablesusedinthisexperiment:onewastheconditionofthelistenerhearingspeechwithor
withoutanUptalkinflection,meaningthat,inthiscase,thenounsendedwithahighrisingpitch.
ThesecondIndependentVariablewastheconditionofthesentenceintwolevelsofnormal
sentences,(inwhichonewouldeasilyrecognizeandunderstand),orbizarresentences,(onesthat
donotmakeanyrealsensebutstillfollowEnglishgrammarrules).
TheUptalkconditionutilizedabetweensubjectsdesignthatis,inoneroom,the
participantswereexposedtoathesentencesbyhearingaspeakerrecitethesentenceswithan
uptalkinflection.Intheotherroom,participantswereexposedtothesentencesbyaspeaker
usinganonuptalkform,ormorestandardformofAmericanEnglishasthecontrol.Forthe
sentencesthemselves,participantswereexposedtoamixedlistofbizarreandnormalsentences,
whichweredeliveredinalternatingorder.Thisindependentvariableusedawithinsubjects
design.Thedependentvariablewasthemeanpercentageofallofthenouns.Inthebizarreand
normalconditionsthatparticipantswereabletowritedownafterhearingthelistofsentences
twotimes,whichreflectstheamountofsentencecontenttheywereabletorecall.
Material
OurgroupreferencedthelistscreatedbyGeracietal.(2013)intheirstudyonthe
bizarrenesseffect.Intwentywordlists,wedesignedsentencesthateachcontainedthreenouns.
Thethemeofthesentences(food,politics,cars,etc.)werethendelegatedoutingroupsoffive
sentences(fourdifferentsentencesubjectstotalperlist),sothatthelistofsentenceswasnot
confinedtoonesubject.Wemadetwotwentywordliststotal,andthenchangedtheverbsin

THEBIZARREEFFECTOFUPTALKONLISTENINGMEMORY

alternatingsentencesintheseliststomakethembizarre,makingfourtwentywordliststotal
twonormallists,oneforthenouptalkcondition(AppendixA)andonefortheuptalkcondition
(AppendixB),andtwobizarrelists,oneforthenouptalkcondition(AppendixC)andonefor
theuptalkcondition(AppendixD).Anexampleofabizarresentencewouldbemakingthe
normalTheSTUDENTwroteherNOTESonherLAPTOPintoTheSTUDENTdrankher
NOTESonherLAPTOP.Thesesentencesbothfollowthesamegrammaticalstructure,butthe
secondsentencehasadifferentverbwhicheliminatessyntacticalunderstandingofthesentence.
TheselistswerethenrecodedintotheaudioeditingsoftwareLogicPro9bytwodifferent
femaleactors,readingthelistthroughwithuptalkpitchandagainwithouttheuptalkpitch.We
chosetousefemalevoicesbecauseoftheresearchputoutbyMcFarland(2007)ondifferences
betweenlisteningcomprehensionbetweenfemaleandmalevoicesbychoosingonlyfemale
voices,weremovedgenderasaquasivariable.Weusedaspeakerthatnaturallyuseduptalkin
herspeech,andanotherspeakerthatwasnotpronetotheuseofuptalk.Thisaccountsfrom
possibleinternalvalidityproblemsthatmightarisefromthevoiceactornotusingtheirnatural
voiceandthereforesoundingunnaturalduetotheirunnaturaloruncannyinflection.We
projectedthesentencesouttotheparticipantsintheclassroombyusingtheclassroomsaudio
equipment.
Procedure
Onthedayoftheexperiment,wesplittheclassinhalfandputthetwogroupsinto
separaterooms.OneroomwassubjectedtoonlytheUptalkcondition,andtheotherroomwas
subjecttoonlythenonuptalk,orcontrolcondition.Intheroomsthemselves,weplayedthe
audioclipsofthesentencesthatwehadrecorded.First,thegroupslistenedtothelistofnormal

THEBIZARREEFFECTOFUPTALKONLISTENINGMEMORY

sentencestwotimesthroughwithadifferentactoreachtime,inanattempttoaccountforinternal
validitythatcouldarisefromanonnativeUptalkspeakerattemptingtospeakwithanUptalk
inflection,andconversely,anativeUptalkspeakerattemptingtospeakwithoutanUptalk
inflection.Theparticipantswerethenaskedtowritedownasmanynounsastheycould
remember.Wethenhadthemlistentothemixedlistofbizarreandnormalsentences,againtwo
timesthroughwithtwodifferentactors,andthenaskedthemtowritedownallthenounsthey
couldremember.Whileweinitiallyintendedtocomparethenounsrecalledfromthetwo
differenttypesoflistsforourdata,ProfessorStormencouragedustolooksimplysentencelevel
atthemixedbizarreandnormalliststopullourresults.
Ethics.
Thisexperimentshouldnothaverunintotoomanyethicalproblems.Perhapsa
bizarresentencemighthavetriggeredanegativememoryorhaveoffensiveimplicationstoa
participant,butitwouldbeimpossibletoaccountforthisforeveryparticipantintheexperiment.
Results
Themeanpercentagesofnounsinthenormalandbizarresentencesrecalledintheuptalk
andcontrolconditionsappearinAppendixE.Itwasfoundasignificantdifferenceintherecall
forthebizarresentencesbetweentheUptalkandcontrolconditions
F
(1,20)=10.017,
MSE
=
.58,
P
=.005.Therewasnosignificantdifferencebetweenournonuptalkanduptalkconditions
orbetweenourbizarreandnormalsentenceconditions.Theaveragepercentageofthenouns
recalledinthenonUptalkconditionwereequalacrosssentencetypes(
M
=.1995
,SD
=.1171).
TheconditionofsentencerecallintheUptalkcondition(
M
=.1295
,SD
=.0729)trendedlower,
butwasnotsignificant.IntheUptalkcondition,participantsrecalledmorenounsinthenormal
sentences(
M
=.158
,SD
=.019)thaninthebizarresentences(
M
=.096
,SD
=.021).


THEBIZARREEFFECTOFUPTALKONLISTENINGMEMORY

10

Discussion
OurgrouphypothesizedthatuptalkwoulddiminishoreliminateTheBizarrenessEffect
inourstudy.Ourhypotheseswascorrecttosomeextent,buttheresultstakethishypothesiseven
further.Inourstudy,wefoundnoincreasedmemoryfunctionwithTheBizarrenessEffectatall,
andtheparticipantsshowedthatintheuptalkconditioninparticular,thebizarresentenceswere
farlessmemorable.Itisalsoworthpointingoutthatinthestudy,thebizarresentenceswegiven
totheparticipantsaftertheywereexposedtothenormalsentencesandwerealreadyprimedthat
theywouldbeaskedtowritedownthenounsthattheyremember.Nevertheless,thebizarre
sentencesshowednoeffectinthecontrolconditionandanegativeeffectintheuptalkcondition.
TheresultsalsoshowthattheUptalkconditioningeneralscoredpooreronlisteningmemory
thanthecontrolcondition.Thisresultisclosetosignificant,butitcouldalsobeattributedtothe
unnaturalnatureoftherecordingsweusedinthestudy,thereforeitwouldbehardtoconclude
thattheseresultsreflectanylinguisticprejudicetowardstheUptalkspeechpattern.
LimitationsonFindings.
Becausethebizarresentencesinbothconditionsshowedno
increasedcognitivememoryretention,ourresearchchallengesthefindingsofGeracietal.
(2013).Thiscouldbedue,however,tothenumerousflawsinthedesignofourstudy.Inthe
hasteofmakingourrecordings,therewerenumerousmistakesintherecordingsthemselves,
whichconsistedofdiscrepanciessuchasplatesclanginginthebackground,changesinvolume
intherecording,and,inonecase,thespeakermadeamistakeonasentenceandrepeatedit,and
wefailedtoeditthismistakeoutoftherecordings.Also,thesamelistswererepeatedtwotimes
bythetwodifferentspeakers,soallparticipantswereexposedtothelistofsentencestwotimes
througheach.Whilethiswasappliedtoallconditions,itwasnotnecessarytoourstudy.


THEBIZARREEFFECTOFUPTALKONLISTENINGMEMORY

11

Additionally,wefailedtocorrectlyeditourhandoutstoourparticipants,andonesideofour
handoutsaskedthatparticipantswritedownalloftheverbsandnounstheycanremember,
whenwewereaskingthemtoonlywritedownthenouns.Oneoftheparticipantslaterinformed
usthatthisconfusedherinwhatshewassupposedtowritedown.
LimitationsonDesign.
Whiletheresultsbroughtustosomeinterestingfindingsinour
study,oneshouldbehesitanttodrawanyconclusionsfromtheseresults.Asidefromthe
numerousmistakesdiscussedinthepreviousparagraph,thestudyweconductedaloneshouldbe
atestamenttoconstructingaviabledesignforstudy.Aninherentflawtothestudyinitselfcould
bethenatureofpairingTheBizarrenessEffectwithUptalk.Perhapsthecognitiveeffectsof
hearingsomeonespeakwithanunnaturalUptalkinflectionwhilerecitingbizarresentences
wouldcontributetoacognitiveoverloadandnullifytheeffectsofbothconditions.Regardless,
thereisplentymoretodiscoverwithTheBizarrenessEffectandUptalk,andbothofthese
phenomenashouldbesubjectedtofurtherstudy.


THEBIZARREEFFECTOFUPTALKONLISTENINGMEMORY

12

References
Breitenstein,C.,VanLancker,D.,&Daum,I.(2001).Thecontributionofspeechrateand
pitchvariationtotheperceptionofvocalemotionsinagermanandanamericansample.
CognitionandEmotion,15
(1),5779.doi:
http://search.proquest.com/docview/619666948?accountid=1452
Geraci,L.,McDaniel,M.,Miller,T.,&Hughes,M.(2013).Thebizarrenesseffect:
evidenceforthecriticalinfluenceofretrievalprocesses.
PsychonomicSociety,Inc.
12281237.
Hogan,T.P.,Adlof,S.M.,&Alonzo,C.N.(2014).Ontheimportanceoflistening
comprehension.
InternationalJournalofSpeechLanguagePathology,16
(3),199207.
doi:
http://dx.doi.org/10.3109/17549507.2014.904441
McFarland,H.D.P.(2007).
Effectsofjobstereotype,applicantgender,andpowerfuland
powerlessspeechstylesontelephoneinterviewoutcomes.
(OrderNo.3300860,The
UniversityofSouthernMississippi).
ProQuestDissertationsandTheses,
,236.doi:
http://search.proquest.com/docview/304808118?accountid=14523.(304808118).
Tomlinson,J.M.,Jr.,&Tree,J.E.F.(2011).Listenerscomprehensionofuptalkin
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Cognition,119
(1),5869.
doi:http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.cognition.2010.12.005


THEBIZARREEFFECTOFUPTALKONLISTENINGMEMORY

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AppendixA
NormalListUsedinNoUptalkCondition

1. HepouredhisMILKintotheGLASStopreparehisCEREAL.
2. TheycutuptheONIONSandTOMATOESwhiletheWATERwasboiling.
3. GREEKYOGURTusuallyspoilsthreetofourDAYSafteritsCONTAINERhasbeen
opened.
4. WhiletypicallythoughtofasanAUTHENTICMexicanDISH,theBURRITOwas
actuallydevelopedinSanFrancisco.
5. ItookabiteoutofmyGRANOLABARbeforerealizingthatithadHONEYandwasnt
VEGAN.
6. STEVEdrovehisCARtoSANJOSE.
7. TheBMWlappedtheAUDIinaRACE.
8. SPARKPLUGSignitetheAIRandFUEL.
9. TheEXHAUSThasaLEAKbehindtheAXLE.
10. DroppingtheCLUTCH,MIKEspuntheTIRES.
11. ThePRESIDENTaccompaniedbytheDIPLOMATaddressedCONGRESS
12. ThePOLITICIANrefusedtoaccepttheNECKLACEfromtheBUSINESSMAN
13. TheSOLDIERcriedinCOURTwhentheJUDGEconvictedhim
14. TheSENATORposedonaFARMforhispromotionalPOSTER
15. TheWHITEHOUSEisdeliveredmailbyPOSTMENinblueSHORTS
16. IwasstudyingfortheFINALbeforetheBATTERYtomyCOMPUTERsuddenlydied.
17. TheTEACHERaskedtheSTUDENTtoputhisPHONEaway.
18. InCLASSthePROFESSORlecturedaboutHISTORY
19. TheNOTEBOOKbelongedtotheSTUDENTsittingintheCORNER.
20. TheSTUDENTwroteherNOTESonherLAPTOP.


THEBIZARREEFFECTOFUPTALKONLISTENINGMEMORY

14

AppendixB

NormalListUsedinUptalkCondition

1. TheRAINpoundedtheWINDOWastheHURRICANEapproached.
2. TheSNOWMANhadaCARROTforaNOSE.
3. LisaskiddedherCARontheslipperyROADandcrashedintoaDITCH.
4. IwillnotgoOUTSIDEwithoutaJACKETbecauseitiswaytooCOLD.
5. TheyworeSWIMSUITStotheBEACHeventhoughitwasDECEMBER.
6. ItriedtotellhimattheSTOREthathisSHIRTdidnotevenmatchhisBEANIE.
7. NoonehasgonetotheMALLtobuynewCLOTHESsinceMADONNAwasstill
relevant.
8. TheplaidSKIRTlooksreallygreatwiththeTOPyouboughtlastWEEKEND.
9. TheSHEETSmaketheBEDlookmuchmoreCOMFORTABLEandwarm.
10. WeneedtogetnewCURTAINSforthisWINDOWcausetheseonesarewaytoo
UGLY.
11. ThePROTESTERSorganizedaRALLYoutsideoftheCAPITOL.
12. SheshoutedaPHRASEthroughaMEGAPHONEandtheCROWDresponded.
13. TheythoughttheMESSAGEwasclearbutthePRESIDENTrefusedtosigntheBILL.
14. TheRIOTSwerearesultoftheDECISIONmadeattheCOURTS.
15. TheLEGISLATUREpassedaMEASUREdenouncingtheTERRORISTorganization.
16. TheCHOCOLATEtasteslessbitterifyoumixitwithSUGARandCREAM.
17. HetooktheWRAPPERoffoftheCANDYbeforeheputitinhisMOUTH.
18. TheCHILDthoughttheGUMMYwastooSOURandspititout.
19. TheFROSTINGmeltedbecausetheylefttheHEATERonintheKITCHEN.
20. IwaseatingtheICECREAMbutsomeSTRANGERhitmeandIdroppeditallonthe
FLOOR.


THEBIZARREEFFECTOFUPTALKONLISTENINGMEMORY

15

AppendixC

MixedBizarreListUsedinNoUptalkCondition

1. TheRAINpoundedtheWINDOWastheHURRICANEapproached.
2. TheSNOWMANhadaCARROTforaNOSE
3. LisaskiddedherCARontheslipperyROADandcrashedintoaDITCH.
4. IwillnotsteamOUTSIDEwithoutaJACKETbecauseitiswaytooCOLD.
5. TheyworeSWIMSUITStotheBEACHeventhoughitwasDECEMBER.
6. ItriedtoscratchhimattheSTOREthathisSHIRTdidnotevenmatchhisBEANIE.
7. NoonehasgonetotheMALLtobuynewCLOTHESsinceMADONNAwasstill
relevant.
8. TheplaidSKIRTweighsreallygreatwiththeTOPyoudrovelastWEEKEND.
9. TheSHEETSmaketheBEDlookmuchmoreCOMFORTABLEandwarm.
10. WecuttogetnewCURTAINSforthisWINDOWcausetheseonesstandwaytoo
UGLY.
11. ThePROTESTERSinvertedaRALLYoutsideoftheCAPITOL.
12. SheshoutedaPHRASEthroughaMEGAPHONEandtheCROWDresponded.
13. TheyinvertedtheMESSAGEwaswidebutthePRESIDENTswamtosigntheBILL.
14. TheRIOTSwerearesultoftheDECISIONmadeattheCOURTS.
15. TheLEGISLATUREinsultedaMEASUREwigglingtheTERRORISTorganization.
16. TheCHOCOLATEtasteslessbitterifyoumixitwithSUGARandCREAM.
17. HestampedtheWRAPPERoffoftheCANDYbeforeheworeitinhisMOUTH.
18. TheCHILDthoughttheGUMMYwastooSOURandspititout.
19. TheFROSTINGstudiedbecausetheydiedtheHEATERonintheKITCHEN.
20. IwaseatingtheICECREAMbutsomeSTRANGERhitmeandIdroppeditallonthe
FLOOR.


16

THEBIZARREEFFECTOFUPTALKONLISTENINGMEMORY

AppendixD
MixedBizarreListUsedinUptalkCondition

1. HepouredhisMILKintotheGLASStopreparehisCEREAL.
2. TheypuncheduptheONIONSandTOMATOESwhiletheWATERwastalking.
3. GREEKYOGURTusuallyspoilsthreetofourDAYSafteritsCONTAINERhasbeen
opened.
4. WhiletypicallystretchedoutasanAUTHENTICMexicanDISH,theBURRITOwas
actuallydriveninSanFrancisco.
5. ItookabiteoutofmyGRANOLABARbeforerealizingthatithadHONEYandwasnt
VEGAN.
6. STEVEwalkedhisCARtoSANJOSE.
7. TheBMWlappedtheAUDIinaRACE.
8. SPARKPLUGStickletheAIRandFUEL.
9. TheEXHAUSThasaLEAKbehindtheAXLE.
10. DroppingtheCLUTCH,MIKEcuddledtheTIRES.
11. ThePRESIDENTaccompaniedbytheDIPLOMATaddressedCONGRESS
12. thePOLITICIANlickedtheNECKLACEandhittheBUSINESSMAN
13. TheSOLDIERcriedinCOURTwhentheJUDGEconvictedhim
14. theSENATORtorchedtheFARMashewastoldtodobyaPOSTER
15. TheWHITEHOUSEisdeliveredmailbyPOSTMENinblueSHORTS
16. IwasteethingfortheFINALbeforetheBATTERYtomyCOMPUTERsuddenly
squirted.
17. TheTEACHERaskedtheSTUDENTtoputhisPHONEaway.
18. InCLASSthePROFESSORskippedaboutHISTORY
19. TheNOTEBOOKbelongedtotheSTUDENTsittingintheCORNER.
20. TheSTUDENTdrankherNOTESonherLAPTOP.


THEBIZARREEFFECTOFUPTALKONLISTENINGMEMORY

17

AppendixE

Nounrecallbasedonsentenceanduptalkcondition.Thisgraphdemonstratesthemean
percentageofnounsrecalledforthesentence(bizarreornormal)andUptalk(Uptalkor
NoUptalk)conditions.