Speaking (Lesson 3)

Objectives:

Learners should be able to:

a. Recognize intonation patterns

b. Practice intonation in speech

Intonation

Intonation describes how the voice rises and falls in speech. The three main patterns of intonation in
English are: falling intonation, rising intonation and fall-rise intonation.

Falling intonation

Falling intonation describes how the voice falls on the final stressed syllable of a phrase or a group of
words. A falling intonation is very common in wh-questions.

Where’s the nearest p↘ost-office?

What time does the film f↘inish?

We also use falling intonation when we say something definite, or when we want to be very clear about
something:

I think we are completely l↘ost.

OK, here’s the magaz↘ine you wanted.

Rising intonation
Rising intonation describes how the voice rises at the end of a sentence. Rising intonation is common in
yes-no questions:

I hear the Health Centre is expanding. So, is that the new d↗octor?

Are you th↗irsty?

Fall-rise intonation

Fall-rise intonation describes how the voice falls and then rises. We use fall-rise intonation at the end of
sintonation

when we want to say that we are not sure, or when we may have more to add:

I do↘n’t support any football team at the m↘om↗ent. (but I may change my mind in future).

It rained every day in the firs↘t w↗eek. (but things improved after that).

We use fall-rise intonation with questions, especially when we request information or invite somebody
to do or to have something. The intonation pattern makes the questions sound more polite:

Is this your cam↘er↗a?

Would you like another co↘ff↗ee?

Task 1
The chart have three columns to indicate three-syllable words. At the top, numbers 1, 2, and 3
represents each syllable. Each column, one number is emphasized and underlined to show the syllable
that is stressed. Place each word in the corresponding column.

telephone magazine religion nutrition exactly

1-2-3 1-2-3 1-2-3

Task 2

Underline the number for the word that is stressed.

1. I bought my sister a present.

1-2-3-4-5-6

2. Anna didn't break the window.

1-2-3-4-5

3. I didn't buy a car.

1-2-3-4-5

4. I was so angry.

1-2-3-4

5. He forgot to call me on my birthday.

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8

Task 3
Identify whether it uses the falling, rising, or fall-rise intonation.

1. She got a dog.

She got a dog?

2. You speak English?

You speak English.

Answer Key

Task 1

1-2-3 1-2-3 1-2-3

telephone religion

magazine nutrition

exactly

Task 2

1. I bought my sister a present.

1-2-3-4-5-6

2. Anna didn't break the window.

1-2-3-4-5

3. I didn't buy a car.

1-2-3-4-5

4. I was so angry.

1-2-3-4

5. He forgot to call me on my birthday.

1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8

Task 3

1. She got a dog. - Falling Intonation

She got a dog? - Rising Intonation

2. You speak English? - Rising Intonation

You speak English. - Falling Intonation

https://dictionary.cambridge.org/grammar/british-grammar/speaking/intonation

https://m.busyteacher.org/15088-how-to-improve-esl-intonation-stress-7-exercises.html