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15 Intonation

This document discusses intonation and pitch in language. It covers: - Stress and intonation as parts of super-segmental phonology in English. Intonation involves pitch of the voice. - Fundamental frequency is the rate of vocal fold vibration, which is physically measurable and related to a speaker's actions. - Utterances are continuous pieces of speech separated by pauses. Tones are the overall pitch pattern within an utterance, which can be level, falling, or rising. - Languages like Mandarin use tone to distinguish word meanings. English uses tone for functions like questions versus statements.

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179 views24 pages

15 Intonation

This document discusses intonation and pitch in language. It covers: - Stress and intonation as parts of super-segmental phonology in English. Intonation involves pitch of the voice. - Fundamental frequency is the rate of vocal fold vibration, which is physically measurable and related to a speaker's actions. - Utterances are continuous pieces of speech separated by pauses. Tones are the overall pitch pattern within an utterance, which can be level, falling, or rising. - Languages like Mandarin use tone to distinguish word meanings. English uses tone for functions like questions versus statements.

Uploaded by

ammaranas
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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IN the NAME OF

THE MOST HIGH


Chapter 15

Intonation 1
“All my life I've looked
at words
as though I were seeing
them for the first time.”
Ernest Hemingway
Segmental Phonology
The study of the description of phonemes.

Stress
Something that is applied to or is a property of
syllables & therefore is a part of super-segmental
phonology of English.
parts of super-segmental
phonology
Stress
Something that is applied to syllables.

Intonation
The pitch of the voice which plays the most
important part in intonation.
Necessary Conditions for Pitch

1. It should be over control.


2. It must be perceptible
3. It should make contrast
Fundamental Frequency
The rate of vibration of the vocal folds,
something which is physically
measurable, and which is related to
actions on the part of the speaker.
Forms and Functions in Intonation
Form
What cab be observed when we study pitch
vibration.

Function
What is linguistic importance of the phenomena
we observed.
Utterance
A name for continuous piece of speech
beginning and ending with a clear pause.

Tone
The word we use for the overall of the pitch
containing at a constant level, or with the
pitch changing from level to another.
Tone
1. Level tone

2. Moving tone
Falling
Rising
Tone Language

Languages that the tone can


determine the meaning of the
word, that is, changing from one
tone to another can completely
change the meaning.
Complex Tones and Pitch Height
Complex tones
Fall-rise
The pitch descends & then rises again.

Rise-fall
The pitch rises & then descends again.
Levels
 Top
Highest pitch normally used by the
speakers.
 Bottom
The speaker pitch normally does not
go belong.
Normal & unemphatic

Strong & emphatic


Function of Language Tones
Fall
Rise
Fall rise
Rise fall
Fall “yes” “no”
Fall tone usually more or less
regards as neutral. If someone is
asked a question and replies yes\no
the question is now answered and
nothing more to be said.
Fall gives the impression of
finality.
Rise “yes” “no”
Rise tone conveys an impression that something more is
to follow.

A typical occurrence in a dialogue between two


speakers whom we shall call A & B.

rising yes
invite A to continue
falling yes
would give a feeling of finality.
In someone’ s response to a series
of instruction or direction.
A: you started of the road.
B: yes
 A: Have you seen Ann?

no has an invitation to A to
B: explain why she is looking for Ann.
no has an interest in continuing
with that topic of conversation
A question that implies readiness to present
some new information.

A: Do you know what the longest balloon flight


was?

B: no inviting a to tell him

no he doesn’t know & isn’t expecting to


be told
Fall-rise “yes” “no”
a. It is used in limited agreement or respond
with reservation.
A: I’ve heard that it’s a good school
B: yes

A : It’s not really an expressive book, is it?


B :no
Rise-fall “yes” “no”
It is used to show
1. Approval
2. Disapproval
3. Surprise
A: you wouldn’t do an awful thing like that, woulde you?
B: no

A: isn’t the view lovely?


B: yes

A:I think you said it was then best so far.


B: yes
Level “yes” “no”
It is used for saying something
routine, uninteresting or boring.
For example in roll calling and
answering for an insurance policy.
The
End

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