Intonation (Phonetics)

1. UNIVERSIDAD NACIONAL EXPERIMENTAL
“FRANCISCO DE MIRANDA”
ÁREA CIENCIAS DE LA EDUCACIÓN
PROGRAMA DE EDUCACIÓN MENCIÓN INGLÉS
PHONETICS II
Intonation PROF. JULIO REYES

2. “Linguistic feature”
Which is considered as
The sequence or arrangement of musical
pitch levels occurring in an utterance.
Comrie (1984)
… this set of musical pitch levels serve to
distinguish between questions, statements,
and other types of utterances in a language.
Comrie (1984)
PROF. JULIO REYES

3. Consider the differences between :
 You're leaving.
 You're leaving?
 You're leaving. (statement)
 You're leaving? (question)
PROF. JULIO REYES

4. Falling
Intonation
It is a pattern in which our voice
«goes down» (falls) to a low pitch
by the end of an utterance.
Rising Intonation
It is a pattern in which our voice
«goes up» (rises) to a high pitch by
the end of an utterance.
PROF. JULIO REYES

5. 1. In tag questions when the speaker is sure that what he says is right:
It's a tough day, isn't it? / It's a wonderful weather, isn't it?
2. In seeking information with Wh – questions:
How much is this car? / What's your name?
3. Short, complete sentences:
It's so near. / It's very far.
4. For commands:
Leave me alone. / Give me my keys.
PROF. JULIO REYES

6. 1. Tag questions when the speaker is not sure that what he says is correct:
You're sure, aren't you? / You've checked it, haven't you?
2. Yes – No Questions:
Do you want to leave? / Did you see the elephant?
3. Wh - Questions when the speaker wishes to show special interest:
Where do you live? / What do you do for a living?
4. Statements intended to encourage:
That's a remarkable thought. / You're doing a great job!
5. Sentences ending with 'please'; 'goodbye'; 'thank you' when used to show
gratitude for a simple matter (passing the dish, etc.):
A cup of tea, please? / Would you pass me that pen, please?

7. Note:
By learning how native speakers use varying
intonation patterns, we can accurately understand
what people try to communicate with us. As we
listen closely to the melody of their speech, we can
figure out their feelings, sense their moods and
attitudes, and recognize questions, commands /
requests and offers, ergo, properly respond to them.
PROF. JULIO REYES

8. EXAMPLE SENTENCE [A]:
"I'm not going."
•"I'm not going": meaning [1] = Not "ME", but perhaps
"YOU", "SHE" or "HE".
•"I'm not going": meaning [2] = I reFUSE to go.
•"I'm not going": meaning [3] = I'm not GOing... I'm
COMing BACK!
PROF. JULIO REYES

9. EXAMPLE SENTENCE [B]:
«Janet's going to Brighton tomorrow afternoon to buy
herself a pair of red, leather shoes.»
5.Is John going to Brighton?
7.Is Janet going to London?
9.Is Janet going to Brighton to sell her house?
11.Is Janet coming from Brighton?
PROF. JULIO REYES

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PROF. JULIO REYES

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PROF. JULIO REYES

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PROF. JULIO REYES

13. EXERCISE 1:
Do you speak English?
Practice with different types of intonation patterns:
7.«YOU»
9.«SPEAK»
11.«ENGLISH»

15. PROF. JULIO REYES

16. PROF. JULIO REYES