Intonation
Intonation implies variations of pitch, force of utterance and tempo. One of the
components of intonation – pitch and stress sections (pre-head, head, nucleus, tail). Nucleus is the last stressed syllable
of the intonation pattern.
1. The Law Fall
- The voice falls from the low pitch level to the bottom
of the pitch. M.: Statements - Final. categoric, calm. Special q-s – calm,
serious, flat. Imperatives – calm, unemotional, serious. Exclamatories – calm, unsurprised.
2. The Low Rise. The voice rises from a very low to a medium pitch level. M.: Statements – non-categ,
non-final, enc further conversation. Special q-s – interest, sympathy. General
q-s – interest. Imperatives – calmly warning, soothing. Exclamatories – calm acknowledgement.
3. The Fall-Rise. The voice first falls from a medium/high to rather low pitch level, and then rises to a medium pitch. M.:
1) Instead of the low-rising tone to intensify the
significance of communicative centre. 2) In statements expr correction, hurt feelings, concern. 3) In direct address – to draw attention of the listener
4.The Mid-Level. It’s pronounced on the medium level; the voice
neither rises nor falls. Used in non-final intonation groups, expressing non-finality without any impression of expectancy.
Used in: 1) Parenthesis at the beginning of inton group 2) Adverbials of time
and place -/-, e.g. on >Sunday we shall
be at home 3) Adverbial clauses preceding the principal one
e.g. If you want to have a >rest, go to the country.
Exercises
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