IntonatioIntonationn

UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL EXPERIMENTAL“FRANCISCO DE MIRANDA”

ÁREA CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓNPROGRAMA DE EDUCACIÓN MENCIÓN INGLÉS

PHONETICS II

PROF. JULIO REYES

“Linguistic feature”

Which is considered as

PROF. JULIO REYES

… this set of musical pitch levels serve to distinguish between questions, statements, and other types of utterances in a language.

Comrie (1984)

The sequence or arrangement of musical pitch levels occurring in an utterance.

Comrie (1984)

Consider the differences between Consider the differences between : :

You're leaving. You're leaving?

You're leaving. (statement)

You're leaving? (question)

PROF. JULIO REYES

Falling IntonationFalling Intonation

It is a pattern in which our voice «goes down» (falls) to a low pitch by the end of an utterance.

Rising IntonationRising Intonation

It is a pattern in which our voice «goes up» (rises) to a high pitch by the end of an utterance.

PROF. JULIO REYES

PROF. JULIO REYES

1. In tag questions when the speaker is sure that what he says is right:It's a tough day, isn't it? / It's a wonderful weather, isn't it?

2. In seeking information with Wh – questions:How much is this car? / What's your name?

3. Short, complete sentences:It's so near. / It's very far.

4. For commands:Leave me alone. / Give me my keys.

1. Tag questions when the speaker is not sure that what he says is correct:You're sure, aren't you? / You've checked it, haven't you?

2. Yes – No Questions:Do you want to leave? / Did you see the elephant?

3. Wh - Questions when the speaker wishes to show special interest:Where do you live? / What do you do for a living?

4. Statements intended to encourage:That's a remarkable thought. / You're doing a great job!

5. Sentences ending with 'please'; 'goodbye'; 'thank you' when used to show gratitude for a simple matter (passing the dish, etc.):

A cup of tea, please? / Would you pass me that pen, please?

Note:

By learning how native speakers use varying intonation patterns, we can accurately understand what people try to communicate with us. As we listen closely to the melody of their speech, we can figure out their feelings, sense their moods and attitudes, and recognize questions, commands / requests and offers, ergo, properly respond to them.

PROF. JULIO REYES

EXAMPLE SENTENCE [A]:

"I'm not going."

1."I'm not going": meaning [1] = Not "ME", but perhaps "YOU", "SHE" or "HE".

2."I'm not going": meaning [2] = I reFUSE to go.

3."I'm not going": meaning [3] = I'm not GOing... I'm COMing BACK!

PROF. JULIO REYES

EXAMPLE SENTENCE [B]:

«Janet's going to Brighton tomorrow afternoon to buy herself a pair of red, leather shoes.»

1.Is John going to Brighton?

2.Is Janet going to London?

3.Is Janet going to Brighton to sell her house?

4.Is Janet coming from Brighton?

PROF. JULIO REYES

People have a tendency to think of

intonation as being directly linked to the

speaker's emotions. In fact, the meaning of

intonation is as conventionalized as any

other aspect of language. Different

languages can use different conventions,

giving rise to potential cross-cultural

misunderstandings.

PROF. JULIO REYES

Speaking one language with the

intonation pattern of other can give rise to

entirely unintentional effects and even

cross - cultural misunderstandings:

English with Russian intonation sounds

unfriendly, rude or threatening, to the

native speaker of English; Russian with

an English intonation sounds affected or

hypocritical to the native speaker of

Russian.

PROF. JULIO REYES

Using a different pattern typically adds

something extra to a question. E.g.,

falling intonation on a Yes/No question

can be interpreted as abruptness. Rising

intonation on a Wh-question can imply

surprise or that you didn't hear the

answer the first time and are asking to

have it repeated.

PROF. JULIO REYES

PROF. JULIO REYES

PROF. JULIO REYES