The Rhythm of Speech

Intonation

What is intonation?
The rise and fall of the voice.
The combination of tunes on which
we pronounce the syllables that
make up our speech.
Low
Normal
High
Extra high

 Extra high which is used to express

an extreme emotion like extreme
fear, extreme anger, extreme
surprise, or extreme excitement is
seldom used in normal speaking.

Basic Intonation Patterns

2-3-1 rising-falling intonation
2-3-3 rising intonation
2-3-2 the non-final intonation

2-3-1 (Rising-Falling
Intonation)
(2) begins with the normal tune
(3) ends by raising the voice to high
(1) then making it fall to low
This is used in short, simple statement
of fact, commands and requests, and
information questions (questions that
begin with questions words like what,
who, why, how)

 Simple Statements of Fact

Youre up early.
They want to listen to the latest
recording.
Pablo was standing in front of the chair.
Brenda had been working for six hours.
The children are not very hungry this
morning.

 Transformation of structure is the basic

method used in the following
exercises. Note how each illustrative
example is converted into a new
sentence, then do the exercises
according to the mode of conversation.
Example: He was late because of the
traffic jam.
The traffic jam made him late.

2-3-1
The traffic is slow because of the flooded
street.
The passengers got angry because of
the blaring loudspeakers.
The runway was rather dangerous
because of the rain.
All the flights were late because of the
storm.
The patient became sleepy because of
the injection.

2-3-1
Commands and Requests
Sit down at the table

Clean up your room.

Make yourself at home.

Take the children to the park.

Look at that boy

Put the vase on the table.

Please put on the record

Look up the meaning of that word.

Kindly look after the children.

Please erase the blackboard.

2-3-1

Observe how each illustrative

example is converted into a new
sentence, then do the exercises
according to the mode of
Example:
You dont understand. Ask when you dont understand.
conversation.
Ask.
You are hungry. Eat.

You are tired. Sleep.

Youre thirsty. Drink.

You are bored. See a movie.

You are lonely. Talk to a friend.

You are happy. Rejoice.

You feel cold. Use a blanket.

You need help. Ask.

Youre in a hurry. Take the car.

You dont know. Read.

2-3-1
Example: Smoking is allowed
in the next room.

Smoke in the next room

Turning right is allowed at these

traffic lights.

Parking is allowed on this side.

Swimming is allowed in this lake.

Resting is allowed in the lounge.

Picking flowers is allowed on

weekdays.

2-3-1
Information questions
What would you like for
breakfast?

Where did you get it?

Where did you learn it?

Whose calculator is this?

Who has been taking things from

my desk?

Which do you prefer?

How many people shall we invite?

How did she do it?

Why is he
rolling about
the--- to ---Who
do--you
want
see?
Example:
thaton
car
does
who
---to
belong
ground?
Who does that car belong to?
About --- those drivers --- talking --- are --- what
The light --- for --- was --- what --- flashing
Is --- where --- to --- going --- the breakdown van
Did --- the patrol car --- from --- come --- where
Who --- some information --- give --- the woman --- to --- did

2-3-1
Example: I decided to be an
electrician.

What made you decide to be

an electrician?

I remembered to bring the torch.

She transferred to a dormitory.

She dropped her hair dryer in the

bath.

Tony called up Cely.

He turned off the electric current.

They mailed the package.

They asked for some wire.

We visited our former professor.

My father inspected the

storeroom.

I bought some strings.

2-3-3 (Rising Intonation)

(2) begins on the normal tune
(3) ends on a high tune on the last
stressed word of the sentence
The syllables which follow the rise are
pronounced on the high note with the
last syllable slightly higher than the rest.
This is normally used at the end of
questions that are answered by yes,
no, or perhaps

 Yes-No Questions
Are you sure youve got
enough paper?

Can you do it?

Would you rather have coffee?

Were they invited?

Have you been to many placed

this year?

Does she know?

Will you please take these forms to Is he coming?

the table?
Do you really close at seven
Should we go?
oclock? Example: I havent got a front door key.
(lose)
Do you mean youve lost your front door key?
I havent got a spare tire. (lose)
The phone doesnt work. (out of order)
Ive got another wrong number. (dial)
There isnt a one-way street notice. (not see)
I havent brought your car back. (crash)

Example: We cant do anything. He never explained.

Answer: Didnt he explain to you what to do?
We cant say anything. He never explained.
I cant buy anything. She never told me.
She cant write anything. The manager never explained.
I cant eat anything. The doctor did not give instructions.
Mrs. Perez cant withdraw the money. The bank did not allow her.

2-3-2 (Non-final
Intonation)
It suggests incompleteness of
thought and its signals that the
speaker still has something to say.
We may pronounce on a note higher
than normal, the stressed syllable of
any word or words to which we want
to call the special attention of the
listener.

 (2) begins with normal

(3) then rises to pitch level 3 on the
stressed word
(2) and returns to normal level or
tune
This is done when the speaker wishes to
suggest that what follows is connected
with what he has just said.

 In specially stressed function words

or content words that precede the
last stressed word as in:
Are you ready to leave? (note you)
They should be here on time. (note
should)

 In contrasts and comparisons as in:

Im looking for a shoebrush not a hairbrush.
Linda runs faster than Sonia does.

In sentences where two or more thought

groups are divided by short pauses as in:
Hed like to get it, but he cant.
If you leave now, we have to go with you.
Keep watch, while I run to the station for help.

 The following sentences have the

non-final intonation pattern (2-3-2) in
combination with either the risingfaling (2-3-1) or rising (2-3-3)
If you leave it like that, it will fall off.
intonation patterns.
He was just going to pack his luggage, when he remembered his
passport.
Youre booked for next Monday, not this Monday.
When Peter spoke in German, did they understand a word?
While they were at the managers office, Robert looked at the car.
The passenger wanted to ask a question, so he went up to the
counter.
Look in the view finder, and press the button.
No, thank you, not today.
Will you stay with him while I run to the store?
When the boat docked, did he go straight to the Customs office?

Example: He must blow hard to force it into the carburetor.

Answer: If he blows hard, he will force it into the carburetor.
He must look carefully to find it in the file.
You must turn this thing to empty the tank.
They must watch the speedometer to know their speed.
He must finish the job to get his money.
The mechanic must go to the store to get the spare parts.
Example: You know the town. Im different.
Answer: You know the town but I dont.
They like tea. Hes different.
We eat bacon and eggs. Hes different.
I like red wine. Youre different.
He wants cream in his coffee. Shes different.
You like ice in your drink. Paul is different.

Intonation Patterns for

Specific Structures

Series with and/Alternatives

with or
(2-3, 2-3-1)
Called the choice question tune
A rising intonation is used on all parts of the
alternatives or series except the last which
is given the rising-falling pattern (2-3-1).
For alternatives with or, the speaker emphasizes
the contrast between or among the various
choices
For series with and, the speaker emphasizes the
last word of the series

 He will arrive on Thursday or

Saturday.
Would you like to play golf, tennis, or
bowling. (note tennis)
These are my friends: Gloria, Alice,
and Lisa. (note Gloria, Alice)
Shed like to buy a bottle of shampoo
and lipstick.

You can wait or go to another booth.

Where would you like to go: to a disco or a cafe?
Shell find the letters, numbers, or punctuation marks in it.
My mother asked me to buy some mangoes, papaya, watermelon, or
any fruit available in the market.
Is this what you want or what he wants?
I think, Ill have eggs and bacon after all.
Wed like to take some family shots, holiday scenes, and picturesque
views.
Please give me your name, address, telephone number and
references.
The clerk prepares invoices, bills and receipts.
I spent one hour at the airport, 45 minutes in the plane, and three
and a half hours on the road.

Direct Address
A rising 2-3 is generally used for the
direct address.
Youre very kind, my dear.
Anna, will you please come to Ward No.
10?

But, Sir, I really must attend to this Lady.

Very well, indeed, thank you, Mrs. Llanes.
Be more careful with your tools, Mr. Santiago.
What can I do for you, my lady?
Rina, would you like some chocolate cake or mango pie?
Excuse me, Nila, but you forgot to mention that yesterday.

Tag Questions
If a tag question is said as a statement of
fact and the speaker is definite that they
listener will agree with him, the tag question
is spoken with the rising-falling pattern.
Its painful, isnt it?
If the sentence is said as a real question and
the speaker is not sure of the listeners
answer, the tag question is spoken with the
rising pattern
Its painful, isnt it?

They arent pleased with anybody, are they?

Its your second week at the office, isnt it?
She can take dictation in shorthand, cant she?
The clock doesnt work very well yet, does it?
Your brother will fix the leaking faucet, wont he?
You made it, didnt you?
She was called, wasnt she?
I couldnt get it, could I?
They listen, dont they?
We werent there, were we?

Mood Intonation
Normal moods are communicated by steps
of normal pitch range.
Repressed moods like reverence, sadness
sublimity, inhibition, peace and serenity,
nostalgia, and physical weakness are
communicated by steps of narrow pitch
range.
Vigorous moods like joy, surprise, anger,
fear, and enthusiasm are communicated by
steps of wide pitch range.

Normal Mood
So through the night rode Paul Revere;
And so through the night went his cry
of alarm To every Middlesex village and
farm,-- A cry of defiance, and not of
fear, A voice in the darkness, a knock
at the door, And a word that shall echo
forevermore!
---Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

Repressed Mood
Hush! My baby, or soon you will hear
The sleepy-eye, Weeng-oosh, hovering
near;
Out of the timber he will coe,
A little round man as small as your
thumb.
--Lew Sarett

Vigorous Mood
Remember March, the ides of March remember:
Did not great Julius bleed for justice sake?
What villain touchd his body, that did stab,
And not for justice? What, shall one of us,
That struck the foremost man of all this world
But for supporting robbers, shall we now
Contaminate our fingers with base bribes,
And sell them the mighty space of our large
honors
For as much trash as may be grasped thus?
I had rather be a dog, and bay at the moon,
Than such a Roman.