Intonation Statemens and Questions

Falling Intonation

Lower your voice at the end of the sentence to produce a “falling intonation.” This intonation

is used for a variety of reasons:

Statements

Falling intonation is used in simple sentences that are not questions. For example:

1. My name is John.

Questions

Falling intonation is also used when asking questions if they contain interrogative words such

as where, what, why, when, how, and who. For example:

1. What’s his name?

Rising Intonation

Raise the pitch of your voice at the end of a sentence to create “rising intonation.”

 Yes / no questions

 Rising intonation is used in yes/no questions.

Non-final Intonation

With “non-final intonation,” the pitch rises and falls within the sentence or word.

  

Unfinished Thoughts

Non-final intonation is often used to indicate that you have not ended a thought. To

indicate that you have something more to say, raise your pitch at the end of the phrase.

For example, “When I saw him...” or “If I study hard...”

Introductory Words

Non-final intonation is also used with introductory words, such as actually or by the way.

Since these types of words indicate that a thought is not finished, the non-final intonation

is appropriate.

Series of Words

Non-final intonation is used in words and phrases that are listed in a series. The voice rises

at the end of each item, but falls with the final item.

Expressing Choices

Finally, non-final intonation is used when giving a choice between two or more things.

1. Do you want to eat in or eat out?

Questions and Intonation

Rising Tone Exercise

‍This tone conveys an impression that something more is to follow.

‍It can be used while:

‍-making general questions.

‍-listing things.

‍-encouraging someone.

‍This tone is also used when asking for repetition or clarification, or indicating disbelief.

‍Now, listen and pronounce.

‍Falling Tone Explanation

‍This is the tone that is usually regarded as more or less neutral. If someone is asked a question and the reply is yes or no, it will be understood that the question is now answered and that there is nothing more to be said. Thus, the falling tone gives an impression of finality.

‍Now, listen and pronounce:

‍Falling-Rise Tone

‍The use of this tone involves a moderately high to low fall, followed by rise in the pitch from low to medium. This tone is used forr special implications not verbally expressed.

‍The term "special implications" can include insinuations, veiled insults, apology, unpleasant news, happiness, reassurance, or doubt on the part of the speaker as to the validity of his remark. This tone shows limited agreement, response with reservation, uncertainty, or doubt.

‍Now, listen and pronounce:

INTONATION LINE

THE IMPORTANCE OF INTONATION

THE IMPORTANCE OF INTONATION

Intonation is fundamental to genuine communication because communicative competence is the ability not only to formulate grammatical correct utterances, but also to signal interactional strategies, such as interrupting, asking for clarifcation, taking the floor, changing the subject, concluding and argument, or constraining a hearer to reply.

Intonation is is a powerful tool for negociating meaning,managing interaction, and achieving discourse coherence.