English Intonation: An Introduction by John Wells Functions of tones

FALL (THE DEFINITIVE FALL)

FUNCTIONS GRAMMATICAL SYNTACTIC ATTITUDINAL DISCURSIVE
(default/ (structural) (emotional) (contextual/
unmarked/ implicational)
neutral)
USES STATEMENT MAIN CLAUSES CONFIDENCE FINALITY
WH QUESTIONS ANGER
COMMANDS UNFRIENDLINESS
DISTANCE
DIVERGENCE
RESERVED

FURTHER USES OF A FALL (DEGREE OF EMOTIONAL INVOLVEMENT: the higher the starting point of a simple fall, the
greater the degree of emotional involvement)
HIGH FALL  Greater interest on the part of the speaker, greater excitement, greater passion, more involvement.
LOW FALL  Lack of interest, less excitement, a disappointment attitude, less involvement

FALL-RISE (THE IMPLICATIONAL FALL-RISE)

USES DEPENDENT OR CONVERGENT NON-FINALITY OR
SUBORDINATE (CONVERSATIONAL) CONTINUATION
CLAUSES FRIENDLY
ADVERBIALS POLITE

THE FALL (THE DEFINITIVE FALL)

GRAMMATICAL
(default/ unmarked/ neutral)

SYNTACTIC
(structural)

MAIN CLAUSE

ATTITUDINAL
(emotional)

CONFIDENCE
ANGER
UNFRIENDLINESS
DISTANCE DIVERGENCE
DISCURSIVE
(contextual/ exceptional/implicational)

FINALITY
FALL-RISE (THE IMPLICATIONAL FALL-RISE)