2. INTONATION
Intonation:
Intonation is one of the important components of speech.
Intonation is the use of appropriate tone to convey meaning. In combination with words, tone helps us
understand the gist of the message. When someone asks us a question, ‘Are you
leaving tomorrow?’ the gradually rising tone helps us realise that it is a
question whether we understand its meaning or not.
Speech uses several kinds of tones. The more important of
these are:
(1)
rising tone
(2) falling tone
(3) rising-falling tone
(4)
falling-rising tone
These different tones are explained in the following:
Observe the following sentences, and note the changes in
the pitch of voice as we say the sentences aloud.
A B
A: He is coming. B:
Is he coming?
A: It’s hot today. B: Is it hot today?
A: I can help you. B:
Can I help you?
A: You must leave now. B:
Must you go now?
The sentences given under ‘A’ are all sentences. The
pitch of the voice usually falls at the end of these statements. That means,
the sentences are uttered with a falling tone.
The sentences given under ‘B’ are questions. They are
said with the pitch of the voice rising at the end. That means, the questions
are uttered with a rising tone.
1. Falling Tone:
a. Normally, statements which are complete and definite are
spoken with a falling tone. Example: GOD made man.
b. ‘Wh’ questions. Example: WHAT’S the time? WHERE do
you live?
c. Commands. Example: SHUT the door; Come QUICKLY.
d. Exclamatory sentences. Example: Good HEAvens! (A
pleasant surprise); What a lovely FLOWer! (A sense of appreciation)
2. RISING TONE:
a. If a statement is intended as a question, a rising tone
is used.
Examples: You
came this MORning? (I thought you came yesterday evening).
He died so SOON? (A sense of surprise)
b. If the statement is intended to be soothing or
encouraging
Examples: I
will HELP you. (So don’t worry.)
I hope you will PASS. (So don’t worry.)
c. If one wants to show as much interest in the other person
as in the subject, then the wh-question is asked in a rising tone.
Examples:
What’s your NAME?; How is your DAUGHter?
d. Yes/ No questions:
Examples: Can
I SEE it?; Have you finished your WORK?
e. If the exclamations are spoken as questions
Examples: OH?
(Is it so?)
REAlly? ( I thought otherwise.)
WHAT?
(Can it be true?)
f. Greetings and wishes.
Examples: Good
MORNing.
HeLLO.
Happy
BIRTHdya.
g. Rhetorical questions that are merely asked for the sake
of emphasis or for creating a certain effect are spoken in a rising tone.
Examples: Can
the blind lead the BLIND?
Who
can escape DEATH?
h. Apostrophes (i.e., addresses to a person – often and
absent or to a thing – often personified) are made in a rising tone.
Examples: FRAILty,
thy name is woman.
DEATH, where is thy sting?
FALLING-RISING TONE:
A third intonation pattern is the
falling-rising tone. it indicates a movement of the pitch of the voice from a
high level to a low level and then to the middle or high level. This tone generally indicates that something is
implied, something which is not expressed openly or directly or something about
which one has certain reservations.
1.
In Tag Questions. Eg: You’re learning FRENCH,
AREN’T you?
2. When a contrast is drawn in a sentence.
Eg: My niece is a DOCtor, not an enginNEER.
Rising –Falling Tone:
The fourth intonation pattern is the
rising-falling tone. It indicates a movement of the pitch of the voice from a
low level to a high level and then to the middle or the low level.
·
when there is enumeration of things in a
sentence, i.e., things mentioned in succession are spoken with a rising tone
followed by a falling tone in the end.
·
Eg: I CAME,I SAW, I CONquered.
·
We’re going to FRANCE, ENGland, ROME and then
SWITzerland.
Tones in relation to
Attitudes:
1.
Tone of Queries – Eg: WHY DO YOU THINK he is
so late?
2. Tone of Replies – Eg: Do you work on a Saturday? NO, we
are closed.
3. Tone of Idiomatic Expressions- Eg: LOOK who’s talking!
4.
Tone OF Continuation and Completion –
Eg: A: Do you
know MURTHY?
B: Yes.
A: He’s
met with an accident.
B: Oh,
is he SAFE?
A: YES,
he is out of danger now.
5.
Tone of Question Tags – Eg: It’s very BORING,
isn’t it?
6. Tone of Agreement–
Eg: A: It’s a nice movie, isn’t it?
B: YES, very nice.
7.
Tone of Disagreement
Eg: A:
Cricket is more interesting than football.
B;
I don’t THINK SO.
8.
Tones of Commands and Requests
COMMANDS: Eg: Requests:
Eg:
GO to bed. Please sit DOWN.
SHUT the window. Try AGAIN.
WASH the car. Don’t forget TO WRITE.
--------------------
Reference: Communication and Soft Skills - Volume-1 by Orient Blackswan
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