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How/why did English speakers begin to use "mhm" and "uh huh" in place of "yes", "mn-mn" and "uh-uh" in place of "no", and the 3-syllable "mmm" with the pitch changed on each syllable in place of "I don't know"?

by /u/Mukonuru in /r/AskHistorians

Upvotes: 356

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