Listening and Speaking: Meaning and Patterns of Intonation for SS 1

Intonation

Performance Objectives

By the end of the lesson, students should be able to:

1. describe the meaning of intonation;
2. explain the functions of intonation;
3. identify types/patterns of intonation;
4. identify intonation in speech.

Meaning of Intonation

Intonation refers to the rise and fall of the voice in speech.

It is the melody or pitch pattern of a sentence. When people speak, their voices do not stay on a single level; they move up and down, creating different sound patterns. These patterns are what we call intonation.

Intonation is an important part of spoken English because it helps to convey meaning, attitude, and grammatical structure.

Functions of Intonation

Intonation serves several important functions in communication. It helps listeners understand not only what is being said but also how it is being said.

Conveying Meaning

Intonation can change the meaning of a sentence even when the words remain the same. The way a speaker’s pitch rises or falls can indicate whether they are asking a question, making a statement, or expressing surprise.

For example, the sentence “You are going?” can be a simple question if the voice rises at the end, or a statement of disbelief if the voice falls and then rises sharply.

Expressing Attitude and Emotion

Intonation is crucial for conveying a speaker’s feelings, mood, or attitude. The same words can sound happy, sad, angry, surprised, bored, or excited depending on the intonation used.

Consider the word “Oh.” Said with a falling intonation, it might express disappointment. Said with a rising intonation, it could express surprise or curiosity. A sharp, high-pitched “Oh!” might indicate sudden pain or shock.

Indicating Grammatical Structure

Intonation helps to distinguish between different types of sentences, such as statements, questions, and commands. It can also help to separate clauses or items in a list.

For instance, a statement usually ends with a falling intonation, while a yes/no question often ends with a rising intonation. This helps the listener to immediately recognise the purpose of the utterance.

Types and Patterns of Intonation

There are several common patterns of intonation in English. These patterns are characterised by the direction the pitch of the voice takes at the end of a phrase or sentence.

Falling Intonation

Falling intonation is a common pattern where the pitch of the voice drops from a higher level to a lower level at the end of a sentence or phrase. It signals completion, certainty, and definiteness.

Falling intonation is typically used in:

1. Statements: “The meeting starts at ten o’clock.”
2. Wh-questions (questions beginning with ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘where’, ‘when’, ‘why’, ‘how’): “Where did you go?”
3. Commands: “Close the door.”
4. Exclamations: “What a beautiful day!”

Rising Intonation

Rising intonation is a pattern where the pitch of the voice rises from a lower level to a higher level at the end of a sentence or phrase. It often indicates uncertainty, a question, or a continuation.

Rising intonation is typically used in:

1. Yes/No questions: “Are you coming?”
2. Questions that express surprise or disbelief: “You finished it already?”
3. When listing items, to indicate that more items are coming: “We bought rice, beans, and garri.” (Rise on rice and beans, fall on garri).
4. To encourage someone to continue speaking: “And then…?”

Fall-Rise Intonation

Fall-rise intonation is a pattern where the pitch of the voice first falls and then rises within the same phrase or sentence. This pattern often conveys hesitation, doubt, reservation, or a polite correction.

Fall-rise intonation is typically used when:

1. Expressing uncertainty or doubt: “It’s possible, I suppose.”
2. Making a polite correction: “I think it’s Tuesday, not Wednesday.”
3. Implying something without stating it directly: “Some people liked it…” (implying others did not).
4. Expressing a warning or reservation: “You could try, but…”

Rise-Fall Intonation

Rise-fall intonation is a pattern where the pitch of the voice first rises and then falls within the same phrase or sentence. This pattern often conveys strong feelings, such as surprise, admiration, strong agreement, or sarcasm.

Rise-fall intonation is typically used in:

1. Exclamations of strong emotion: “That’s absolutely brilliant!”
2. Expressing strong agreement: “You are so right!”
3. Sarcasm or irony: “Oh, how clever!”
4. Emphasising a particular word or idea.

Intonation in Different Sentence Types

The type of sentence being spoken often dictates the intonation pattern used. Understanding these common associations helps both speakers and listeners in effective communication.

Statements

Statements, which provide information or express facts, generally use falling intonation. The voice drops at the end of the sentence, indicating that the thought is complete.

Examples include:

1. “The sun rises in the east.”
2. “My name is Emeka.”
3. “She lives in Lagos.”

Wh-Questions

Questions that begin with ‘who’, ‘what’, ‘where’, ‘when’, ‘why’, or ‘how’ (Wh-questions) typically use falling intonation. The voice falls at the end of the question.

Examples include:

1. “What is your favourite colour?”
2. “Where did you put the book?”
3. “How was your day?”

Yes/No Questions

Questions that can be answered with a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ usually use rising intonation. The voice rises at the end of the question, signalling that a response is expected.

Examples include:

1. “Are you feeling well?”
2. “Did you finish your homework?”
3. “Is it raining outside?”

Commands and Requests

Commands and direct requests generally use falling intonation. This gives them a sense of authority or finality.

Examples include:

1. “Please sit down.”
2. “Pass me the salt.”
3. “Be careful!”

Exclamations

Exclamations, which express strong emotion, typically use falling intonation or sometimes rise-fall intonation for even stronger emphasis. The voice drops sharply at the end.

Examples include:

1. “What a fantastic goal!”
2. “That’s amazing!”
3. “Oh no!”

Lists

When listing items, the voice typically rises on each item in the list, except for the last one, where it falls. This indicates that the list is complete.

Examples include:

1. “I need to buy bread, milk, and eggs.” (Rise on ‘bread’ and ‘milk’, fall on ‘eggs’)
2. “The colours of the Nigerian flag are green, white, and green.” (Rise on first ‘green’ and ‘white’, fall on second ‘green’)

Tag Questions

Tag questions are short questions added to the end of a statement. Their intonation can vary depending on the speaker’s intention.

If the speaker is genuinely asking a question and seeking confirmation, the intonation on the tag question rises. For example: “It’s a beautiful day, isn’t it?” (Rising intonation on ‘isn’t it?’).

If the speaker is expecting agreement and is not really asking a question, the intonation on the tag question falls. For example: “You’re coming, aren’t you?” (Falling intonation on ‘aren’t you?’).

Choices and Alternatives

When offering choices or alternatives, the voice typically rises on the first option and falls on the second (or last) option. This helps to distinguish the options clearly.

Examples include:

1. “Would you like tea or coffee?” (Rise on ‘tea’, fall on ‘coffee’)
2. “Is it red, blue, or green?” (Rise on ‘red’ and ‘blue’, fall on ‘green’)

Identifying Intonation in Speech

Identifying intonation in speech involves listening carefully to the pitch changes in a speaker’s voice. This skill is developed through practice and exposure to various spoken contexts.

To identify intonation, pay attention to the following:

1. The end of a sentence: Notice if the voice goes up, down, or stays level. This is often the most significant indicator of the sentence type or speaker’s intent.
2. Emphasis on specific words: A sudden rise or fall in pitch on a particular word can highlight its importance or convey a specific emotion.
3. Pauses and phrasing: Intonation often works with pauses to group words into meaningful phrases. A change in intonation can signal the end of one idea and the beginning of another.
4. Context: The situation and the words themselves provide clues. For example, a question word like “What” usually precedes a falling intonation, while a statement often has a falling intonation.

Practising by listening to native speakers in various situations, such as news broadcasts, movies, or everyday conversations, can greatly improve the ability to identify and understand different intonation patterns.