Overview
This lecture discusses intonation in English pronunciation, explains its importance, and covers the three main intonation patterns: falling, rising, and fall-rise.
What Is Intonation?
- Intonation is the melody of spoken English, referring to how your voice rises and falls as you speak.
- It helps convey meaning and highlights the central point in a sentence.
Importance of Intonation
- Intonation can change the meaning of a sentence by stressing different words (e.g., "I like to play tennis").
- It reflects the speaker’s attitude, such as happiness (higher pitch) or sadness (lower pitch).
- Combining intonation with facial expressions makes communication clearer.
Three Main Intonation Patterns
Falling Intonation
- Used for statements of certainty or completed actions (e.g., "I have to work.").
- Common in WH- questions (who, what, where, when, why).
- Example: "What time does the movie begin?"
Rising Intonation
- Used for yes/no questions (e.g., "Is he sad?").
- Used in alternative questions: voice rises before "or," falls after "or" (e.g., "Are you watching the movie or not?").
Fall-Rise Intonation
- Used when something is incomplete, uncertain, or to show contrast (e.g., "I'm tired, but let's go out.").
- Can occur on one word or split across two words in a sentence.
- Signals an unfinished thought or prepares the listener for a contrast.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Intonation — The rise and fall of voice pitch during speech.
- Falling Intonation — Voice pitch drops at the end, signaling certainty or completion.
- Rising Intonation — Voice pitch rises at the end, often used in yes/no questions.
- Fall-Rise Intonation — Voice falls and then rises, signaling incompletion or contrast.
- Alternative Question — A question offering two choices, usually using "or."
Action Items / Next Steps
- Practice identifying and using falling, rising, and fall-rise intonation in your own speech.
- Repeat example sentences out loud to improve pronunciation and intonation.
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