Intonation

Intonation

Intonation and stress are very important in spoken English. They both work together to give special meaning and emphasis to an utterance. Intonation is used in speech to distinguish the pitch of what the speaker intends when he speaks, the voice pitch changes, becomes high or low depending on the meaning the speaker intends. The changes in pitch are important because if there are no such changes, the speech would sound monotonous or even meaningless.

Intonation is so important in English that it forms an important part of the spoken utterance and shows a speakers attitude to what he is saying to his listener, intonation may indicate doubt certainty, disbelief, interest or indifference e.g. if a speaker answers “yes” in reply to a questions, different shades of meaning can be inferred from the speaker’s intonation. This reply may mean two different things when given a falling tune it mean strong affirmation which shows that there is no doubt in the speakers mind. But when the same reply is given a rising tune, it suggests some reservation in the mind.

Falling Tune

This is often used in declarative sentences, commands, exclamation and wh-question (questions which demand some information) such sentences usually contain both stress and un-stress syllables which are not spoken at the same pitch level. The first stressed syllable in the sentences is the highest in pitch while any other syllable that comes after is spoken in a little lower pitch.

Here the voice pitch combs down little by little until it gets to the last word which carries the final fall. Any un-stressed syllable after the last stressed syllable are said on a low level. Pitch in order to maintain the fall, e.g.

Statements:

JOY WORKS HARD in SCHool

Emaka has Given the Book to her

Commands

KEEP the Books on the TAble

Don’t disobey your TEAcher

Wh – question

WHY are you very Late?

Who GAVE you the information?

Exclamation

What a GOOD Result

What a PLEAsant SurPRISE

Rising tune

The rising tune is used in polar question i.e. question that require only “Yes” or “no” as answer). As in every sentence where no special contrast or emphasis is intended, the last stress syllable indicates the pitch pattern. In a polar question, the last stressed carries the rise in the pitch but if there are unstressed syllables after it, these unstressed syllables are said on a high pitch in order to continue the rise.

Is the WINE SWEET?

Will Monday be GOOD for it?

Did you EAT LAST NIGHT?

The rising tune is usually used to convey a speakers attitude, if there is any special thing the speaker intends to say the rise in time is usually gradual. The rise in pitch is often time gradual when the speakers attitude is that of indifference or lack of interest. When one wants to make a polite request and greetings the rise in pitch is gradual.

Utterance showing indifference

1. You can DO WHAT you WANT
2. If you WANT to

I THINK that’s RIGHT

1. Listing Items
2. ONE TWO THREE                and    FOUR
3. WE NEED SOME RICE, BEANS FISH and MEAT
4. She wore a CAP, SHIRT, BANCLES and a PAIR of TROUsers

When counting, the final item in the list is usually said on a final tune as indicated in the examples. It is pertinent to note therefore that although falling and rising intonation patterns are the two basic patterns, the two pitch movement could also be together in a long sentence. In non final parts of a sentence the rising pattern is used while the final is used in a falling pitch.

Example of rise and fall pattern in long sentences.

1. While the MEN were WORking, the CHILDREN were playing
2. HE WAS HUNGRY, but he REFUSED to BEG FOR food BECAUSE of HIS INTEGRITY.

Finally, intonation should be correcting used by a speaker if he wishes to achieve the intended effect. We can therefore say that intonation do not show the the different simple sentence, types in English, it also helps to convey the mood or attitude of the speaker.