TONE STATEMENTS
(with no head) Detached, (with no head) Detached,
Cool, Dispassionate,
The Low Drop Reserved, Dull, Possibly Grim
or Surly.
(with a high head) Categoric,
Weighty, Judicial, Considered.
Conveying a sense of
involvement, Light, Airy
The High Drop
Encouraging further
conversation, Guarded,
Reserving judgement,
The Take - Off Appealing to the listener to
change his mind, Deprecatory,
(in contradictions) Resentful
(in non final word groups)
Deprecatory, Disapprovement
Calm, Soothing, Reassuring,
Hint of great self-confidence
and self-reliance,
The Low Bounce (in echoes) questioning with a
tone of surprise and disbelief.
(in non final word groups)
Creating expectancy about
what is to follow.
Grudgingly admitting,
Reluctantly or Defensively
The Switchback dissenting, Concerned,
Reproachful, Hurt, Reserved,
Tentatively suggesting
(in echoes) Greatly astonished
WH- QUESTIONS YES/NO QUESTIONS COMMANDS INTERJECTIONS
(with no head) (In tags (with no head) (with no head) Calm,
Flat, Unsympathetic, Even used as independent Unemotional, Calm, Unsurprised, Reserved,
hostile. comments) Uninterested, Controlled, Cold Self-Possessed
(with a high head) Hostile. (with a high head) Very (with a high head) Very
Searching, Serious, (with a high head) serious, Very strong Strong
Intense, Urgent. Serious, Urgent
Brisk, Businesslike, Willing to discuss but not Suggesting a course of Mildly surprised, Not so
Considerate, Not urgently, Sometimes action and not worrying reserved or
Unfriendly, Lively, Sceptical about being obeyed. Self-possessed as with
Interested (In Q tags used as the Low Drop
independent comments)
Mildly surprised by
acceptance of the
listener’s premises.
(with the nuclear tone on Disapproving, Sceptical, (beginning with Don’t) Sometimes reserving
the interrogative word) Doubting. Appealing to the listener judgement, Sometimes
Wondering, Mildly puzzled to change his mind calm, Casual
otherwise Very calm but (in a few short acknowledgement.
very disapproving and commands) Calming
resentful. warning, Exhortative
(with the nuclear tone on Genuinely interested Soothing, Encouraging, Airy, Casual yet
the interrogative word) Calmly patronising encouraging, Often
Puzzled, Confuse friendly, Brighter than
(in echoes) Disapproving, when said withThe
otherwise Sympathetically Take-Off
interested.
(In echoes) Greatly astonished, otherwise, Interested Urgently warning with a Scornful
and concerned as well as surprised note of reproach or
concern
 TONE STATEMENTS
Protesting as if suffering
The Long Jump under a sense of injustice
Questioning, Trying to elicit a
repetition but lacking any
suggestion of disapproval or
puzzlement
(in non final word groups)
The High Bounce Casual, Tentative
Impressed, Respectful,
The Jackknife Complacent, Self-satisfied,
Challenging, Censorious,
Disclaiming responsibility
Appealing to the listener’s to
The High Dive continue with the topic of
conversation, Expressing
gladness, Regret, Surprise
The Terrace Statements and Interjections → (in final word groups) Calling out to someone as from a distance
(in non final word groups) Marking non-finality without conveying any impression of expectancy
WH- QUESTIONS
Protesting, somewhat
unpleasantly surprised
(with the nuclear tone)
Calling for a repetition of
the information already
given
(with the nuclear tone
following the interrogative
word) Either echoing the
listener’s question before
going on to answer it
(in straightforward,
non-echo questions)
Tentative, Casual
Challenging, Antagonistic,
Disclaiming responsibility
Very emotive, Expressing plaintiveness, Despair,
Gushing warmth
YES/NO QUESTIONS COMMANDS INTERJECTIONS
Willing to discuss but Recommending a course Protesting, Surprised
protesting the need for of action but with a note
settling a crucial point of critical surprise
Either echoing the Querying all parts of the listener’s command or
listener’s question or (in interjection, but with no critical intention.
straightforward, non-echo Repetition of the speaker without critical intention.
questions) Light, Casual
Impressed, Challenging, Disclaiming Impressed, Sometimes a
Antagonistic, responsibility, Sometimes hint of accusation.
hostile
Pleading, Persuading Intensely encouraging,
Protesting