UNIT 9.

INTONATION

UNIT OUTLINE
1. Definition
2. Functions of intonation
3. Some common intonation patterns / contours

1. Definition.
 Tone is the change of pitch a speaker uses in the pronunciation of a syllable or word.
A tone language is a language in which the tone can determine the meaning of a word, and
changing from one tone to another can completely change the meaning.
Ex: Vietnamese: ma – má – mà – mả – mã… (Chinese, Thai …)
 Intonation is the movement of pitch a speaker uses in an utterance.
An intonation language is a language in which the tone used can affect the meaning of an
utterance.
Ex: 2You are a 3student1 ↓ (statement)
2
You are a 3student3↑ (question)
The tone may vary with the speaker, but in general, there are 5 tones in English:
 Fall ↓
 Rise ↑
 Fall - Rise ⋁
 Rise - Fall ⋀
 Level / Constant
2. Functions of intonation
Intonation is used to express what is not expressed by the words in the sentence.
Intonation plays different functions:
a. The accentual function: to emphasize some special word.
Ex: I walked to the ′party
I ′walked to the party
I walked ′to the party
b. The grammatical function: to make clear the grammatical relation between the units in the
sentence.
Ex: 2You are a 3student1 ↓ (statement)
2
You are a 3student3 ↑ (question)
2
Those who 3sold2 → 2quickly made a 3profit1 ↓ (quickly modifies made)
Those who sold 3quickly2 → 2made a 3profit1 ↓ (quickly modifies sold)
2

c. The attitudinal function: to express emotion and attitudes.

Ex: My boyfriend is very handsome. Is he? ↗ (interested, polite)
My boyfriend is very handsome. Is he? ↘ (uninterested)

Some functions of English tones.

 Fall Yes, No↘ To express finality, no interest, nothing more to say.
Ex: Do you know John Smith? No↘
1
  Rise Yes, No↗ To express interest; inviting to continue; polite; encouragement
Ex: My girlfriend is very pretty. Really? ↗ (interested)
Excuse me? - Yes? ↗ (What would you like?)
I’m very nervous about the exam.
Don’t worry! You’ll pass! ↗ (encouraging)
 Fall – Rise Yes, No ⋁ To express limited agreement, reservation, uncertainty, doubt.
Ex: I’ve heard that it’s a good school. Is that right? -Yes ⋁
 Rise – Fall Yes, No ⋀ To convey rather strong feelings of approval, disapproval, or surprise.
Ex: You wouldn’t do such a thing, would you? No ⋀
 Level Yes, No ___ To convey something routine, boring.
Ex: John Smith? - Yes___ (calling the names)
Have you ever been in prison? No___

3. Some common intonation patterns / contours

Intonation contour is made up by the distribution of the pitch levels (numbers) plus the arrows.
a. Pitch: 4 levels: Extra-high (4) (emphatic)
High (3) (tonic syllable)
Normal (2) (normal speech)
Low (1) (lowering the voice)
Position of numbers: at the beginning (usually 2)
on the tonic syllable (3)
at the end (1 or 3)

b. Arrows: to show the variation of the voice

 Falling ↓
 Rising ↑
 Sustained →
Ex: 2We drove to the 3lake1 ↓ 2Will you come 2tonight? 3↑

INTONATION PATTERNS / CONTOURS

a. Falling 231 ↓
 Statement or declarative sentence Ex: 2We drove to the 3lake1 ↓
 Command. Ex: 2Go to the 3room1 ↓
 Wh-question. Ex: 2Where are you 3going1 ↓
b. Rising 223 ↑ or 233 ↑
 Yes – No question in question form Ex: 2Are you a 3student3 ↑
 Yes – No question in statement form Ex: 2You are a 3student3 ↑
c. Sustained 232 →
 Initial grammatical unit Ex: 2In 3short,2 →
 More to say (incompleteness) Ex: 2He is very 3handsome2 → … (but..)
d. A call
 At initial position 32 ↓ or 223 ↑
Ex: 3Harry2↓ 2
Ma2rie3 ↑ 3
Harry1 ↓ (threatening)

 At final position 12 ↑ or 33 ↑
2
 Ex: 2Where are you 3going1 ↓ 1Jane2 ↑
2
Will you come 2tonight3? ↑ 3Harry? 3↑
e. A choice
 A choice of two possibilities (one or the other) 233 ↑ 231↓
Ex: 2Do you want 3tea3 ↑ 2or 3coffee1 ↓
 A proposal of a yes-no question (these ones or something else)233↑233↑
Ex: 2Do you want 3tea3 ↑ 2or 3coffee3↑
f. One word question (who? when?...)
 To repeat the known information 23↑
Ex: Jane has a new 3piano teacher1 ↓ 2Who3 ↑(who has…?)
2

 To ask for new information 31↓

Ex: 2Jane has a new 3piano teacher1↓ 3Who1↓(who is the new piano teacher?)
g. Quoter clause: repeat the last number
Ex: 2Where are you 3going1 ↓ 1he 1asked1↓
2
Are you 3going3 ↑ 3he 3asked3 ↑
f. Tag question:
 Sure: 31↓ Ex: 2You’re a 3student1 ↓, 3aren’t you1 ↓?
 Not sure: 23↑ Ex: 2You’re a 3student1 ↓, 2aren’t you3 ↑?

Variations for emphasis: To emphasize a certain word, number 3 will be moved to that word.
Ex: Normal: 2Are you walking to the 3party3 ↑?
Emphatic: 2Are you 3walking to the party3 ↑?
Emphatic: 2Are you walking 3to the party3 ↑?