Well, there’s the wolf-whistle, but I’m not counting that because its pitch contour doesn’t correspond to some spoken message like the “I dunno” hum does. I’ve never noticed other phrases that can be said in English through intonation alone by humming or whistling. Everett reports that in Piraha~, in various social situations, humming (as well as whistling, yelling, or chanting) can be used to express any message–including, one presumes, “I don’t know”. I was reminded of these minimal ways of expressing one’s ignorance when I read Mark Liberman’s post on Language Log, reporting on the research of Daniel L. The L-H represent the low initial pitch on these accents, followed by a rise. The * indicates the main accent on the entire phrase (on I) the % indicates the phrase boundary. Isn’t it amazing that the somewhat defensive and impatient intonation of “I don’t know” is so distinct that you don’t even need to pronounce the sounds to say it? You can just say, “uuUUuu,” or if you’re chewing a mouthful of food, just hum, “mmMMmm,” and you’re done! For the phonetically inclined readers, it’s this intonation (represented to the best of my ability in the ToBI notation): Linguistics blogs and columns, rarely updated.Linguistics blogs and columns, occasionally updated.Linguistics blogs and columns, never updated.Lingua Franca (Chronicle of Higher Education).Johnson (Language blog of The Economist).
Linguistics blogs and columns, frequently updated.Right-node wrapping ("Friends in Low Places" coordinations) (39).Coordination and quotation fronting (8).Rest you merry | 4th Point on Merry Gentlemen?.Steven Lytle on Linguistically Lost Again Barbara Falconer Newhall on Shtraight Talk
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