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Mr. Aounali
LEVEL
English Department
Module: English Phonetics & Phonology
Lecture 9: Intonation Patterns
For a concrete example consider the difference between: You're going. (statement)
You're going? (question)
2. Graphic Representation of Tones:
The meaning of a pitch accent will be strongly affected by the context in which it appears.
But some generalizations can be made about the meanings of basic accent types:
Neutral, disagree
Bored, impatient
Non-conclusive, ask for more info
Total refusal, anger
Surprise, question
Question Answer
2. Graphic Representation of Tones:
There are four simple moving tones in English according to the behavior of the speaker:
The Low Fall The pitch of the voice falls from a medium to a very low level
E.g.: How are you. (Statement)
The High Fall The pitch of the voice falls from a high to a medium level
E.g.: Peter: Would you like one ticket, or two?
John: Two
The Low Rise The pitch of the voice rises from a very low to a medium level
E.g.: Isn't he nice? Yes
No
The High Rise The pitch of the voice rises from a medium to a high level
E.g.: She passed her driving test. She passed? (disbelief)
The Rise-Fall The pitch of the voice rises first from a low to a high pitch,
Intonation exclamations:
We often show the feeling of surprise in an exclamation where the intonation
goes a long way up and then down (rise-fall).
What a fast car! How good she is?
Intonation suggestions and commands:
Intonation is the voice going up or down. Sometimes this shows whether the
speaker is more polite and friendly or less friendly.
Intonation goes up in a suggestion, or Intonation goes down in a command,
an advice which is polite and friendly: and this sounds less friendly:
Have a holiday, Mr Smith. Have a holiday, Mrs Bloggs.
Stop washing, Mr Wong. Stop washing, Mr Wong.
Dont drop that pot, Ms Morris. Dont drop that pot, Ms Morris.
Put it on the box, Miss Johnson. Put it on the box, Miss Johnson.
Intonation is the voice going up or down. We can show a feeling of
surprise with an intonation that goes a long way up then down.
I saw Victoria at the airport. Response: At the airport?
A: They changed the timetable. B: Changed it?
Time For Practice:
Exercise: Draw an arrow up or down in the space before the strongly stressed word: