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From: phoogenb@liberty.uc.wlu.edu (Peter Hoogenboom)
Subject: m-hmm vs. what? (was Re: Uh-huh, uh-uh was Re: Cross cultural mumblings (was Pause filling particles) 
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Date: Fri, 23 Feb 1996 21:45:35 GMT
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Ralph T. Edwards (rte@elmo.lz.att.com) wrote:
: In article <DMvq28.GGu@logic.uc.wlu.edu>, phoogenb@liberty.uc.wlu.edu
: (Peter Hoogenboom) wrote:

: In the US, we (or at least I) spell 
: > them "M-hmm" and "Uh-uh" -- though the affirmative one is sometimes 
: > (usually?) spoken with the lips open, and written "Uh-huh."
: >  The negative 
: > one is also sometimes spoken with the lips closed, though I am not sure 
: > how to write it in a way which distinguishes it from the negative.

: Umm, but you did.  Uh-huh means yes or I see; uh-uh means no.

Umm, but "uh-uh" and "uh-huh" are clearly open-mouthed vocalizations.  I 
was clearly asking for a way to write the negative of "m-hmm".  I would 
suggest "m-mm" or "mm-mm" but these are clearly mistakeable for "mm-mm good".

Peter

--
Peter Hoogenboom                        phoogenb@wlu.edu
Department of Music, DuPont 208         hoogenboom.p@fs.sciences.wlu.edu
Washington and Lee University           phoogenboom@wesleyan.edu
Lexington, VA 24450                     (540) 463-8697
