Part five.

Intonation

In linguistics, intonation is variation of pitch while speaking which is not used to distinguish words. Intonation and stress are two main elements of linguistic prosody.

In English there are 3 main tones:

• the falling tone

• the rising tone

• the level tone

The use of the falling tone

The falling tone is used in the following communicative types of sentences: (1) in categoric statements, or assertions; (2) in special questions; (3) in commands: (4) in exclamations (or statement-like exclamations); (5) in sentences expressing offers to do something or suggestions that something should be done.

The use of the rising tone

The rising tone is used in the following communicative types of sentences: (1) in general questions; (2) in requests; (3) in non-categoric statements, or in sentences in which something is implied; (4) in greetings pronounced on parting; (5) in special questions expressing a friendly interest in the hearer or forming a series, as if in a questionnaire, or implying a mild reproach; (6) in questions expressing a request to repeat a previously made statement; (7) in echoing questions.

The use of the level tone

The level tone is used in sentences pronounced when the speaker stops to think, when he hesitates, when he pronounces the sentence with indifference, when he does nor know what to say, or when he speaks to himself without paying any attention to the listener, and in reciting poems.

There are exceptions, so all types of sentences should be analyzed in a detail.

Types of sentences and intonation pattern

Intonation in statements.

1. Statements are most widely used with the falling tone, which expresses finality, completeness, and definiteness.

It’s ֽdifficult.

I `wanted to `go there imֽmediately.

It `was not so ֽeasy.

2. However, in non-categoric statements, or in sentences in which something is implied (doubt, uncertainty, hesitation) the rising tone (the Low Rise) is used. This is the intonation of politeness, doubt, or indifference. In all cases it gives the impression that the expression of the speaker’s idea is unfinished.

It `isn’t `so ֽbad.

I `think he is busy.

It `wasn’t `very ֽhot.

3. If a statement is a correction of what someone else has said or a contradiction to something previously uttered or a warning the Fall-Rise is usually used.

He is thirty. He is thirty- v five.

WE shall go there at once. We v shan’t.

I must catch the 9.30 train. You’ll be v late.

Intonation in special / wh-questions.

1. Questions beginning with what, when, where, which, who, whom, whose, why and how often have a falling tone on an important word (often near the end of the question).

2. However, if the speaker is checking that he or she has heard something correctly, is very surprised at some information that they have just heard, forming a series, as if in a questionnaire, or implying a mild reproach the question may start rising on the wh word and continue to rise throughout (Low Rise)

`How `old are you?

`Where do you `study `English?

`What’s the `matter?

`What have you `done?