Monday, 21 October 2013

Intonation



Intonation
          It is natural for us to speak with high and low pitch in voice.  The pattern of high and low pitch in an utterance is called intonation.  Generally, there are 3 main patterns of intonation:

a)  falling pattern
b)  rising pattern
c)  fall-rise and rise-fall  (combined patterns)   The end of the speech is marked by rise-fall
     pattern.

a) falling pattern
This pattern occurs in both Positive and Negative Statements as well as ‘Wh-questions’. 
The voice will rise on a stressed syllable and then fall slightly below the pitch.

          She spends a lot of time reading.

          He doesn’t go swimming every Sunday.

          Why was he late to school?

          When did you arrive?

b)  rising pattern
     This pattern occurs in questions that you will answer ‘Yes / No’. 

     Am
     Is         Was
     Are       Were           [S]……………………………….?

    Do
    Does      Did        [S]    V …………………………….?

    Have
    Has       Had       [S] ……………………………………?

    Have
    Has      Had        [S]  F4………………………………..?

    Can / Could
    May / Might
    Shall / Should               [S]  be / V…………………………..?
    Will / Would
    Must

    Ought       [S]  to V

V = base form / root verb / F1

         
Is he prepared to work hard?
         
         
          Do you exercise every day?

         
Has he a pet?

         
          Have they decided where to go for the coming holiday?

         
          Would you mind closing the door for me?


          Could you do me a favour?

3.  combined patterns
     A.  fall-rise and fall
     This pattern happens when a speaker pauses and continues speaking. 

    
      Knowing what you want to do…………..and how you want to do it makes it easier to

      accomplish.


     When you want enumerate a list, you also use this pattern.  For examples:

     The 7 days in a week are Sunday, Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday

     and Saturday.

 
     I must remember to buy rice, wheat flour, corn flour, salt, sodium glutamate and soy

     sauce on the way home today.

     B.  rise-fall and rise
          Question-tags

          She is hardworking, isn’t she?

          George prepares breakfast every morning, doesn’t he?

          Alice didn’t come here, yesterday, did she?

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