I think “affirmational exchange” is a good way of putting it, and I’m definitely guilty of it. I guess I think of it as a mostly neutral check for understanding/agreement to accept a premise, even if it’s also become a hallmark of that condescending “lilt” people use more idiomatically.
“Everybody deserves to have a place to sleep, right? So what I propose we do is…” quickly confirms that everyone involved agrees people should have shelter, so you can deal with any meritocratic/individualist objections up front and move on. On the other hand, I’ll be looking up an instructional video on how to fix the boiler, and it’ll start with “So your heat just went out, right? And that’s bad, right?” These are probably not the best examples, but the intent and inflection of the speaker is where I hear the difference. “Right?” itself feels more benign to me.
It is neutral! Nothing wrong with it in the average context people use them in, regardless of what class or regional or whatever association their version may have!
I think “affirmational exchange” is a good way of putting it, and I’m definitely guilty of it. I guess I think of it as a mostly neutral check for understanding/agreement to accept a premise, even if it’s also become a hallmark of that condescending “lilt” people use more idiomatically.
“Everybody deserves to have a place to sleep, right? So what I propose we do is…” quickly confirms that everyone involved agrees people should have shelter, so you can deal with any meritocratic/individualist objections up front and move on. On the other hand, I’ll be looking up an instructional video on how to fix the boiler, and it’ll start with “So your heat just went out, right? And that’s bad, right?” These are probably not the best examples, but the intent and inflection of the speaker is where I hear the difference. “Right?” itself feels more benign to me.
It is neutral! Nothing wrong with it in the average context people use them in, regardless of what class or regional or whatever association their version may have!
Then again, listening to Quentin Tarantino talk for ten seconds is a strong case for retiring the phrase forever.
Oh damn, I have to add a clip of him before Part 2 goes live. You will be credited!