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Intonation
Suprasegmental part of the speech with syntactic value.
It is embedded with communicative value.
Syntactic value
Examples:
A. The gentle light colors the sky pink.
B. The gentle light colors pleased her
mother.
More examples:The large stone blocks the road.
The large stone blocks are on the table.
communicative value:Quoting Speech
The speakers show the quotes by putting a short pause before and after. Also, their voice is higher on the quotes.
I said, ‘Can you open the door for me? and he says, ‘Open it yourself!’
‘Like father like son’
as they say.
Quotation vs direct remarks.
Question one was “What’s the capital of Australia?”
‘This is easy,’ I thought, so I wrote ‘Sydney.’ Then when I got home I looked in a book. ‘Australia’ it said, ‘Capital: Canberra’ ‘Oh no,’ I thought. ‘Failed again!’
Communicative value
Example 1 Clennell’s study (1999), a non-native
student misunderstood her lecturer’s
words.
“Eva, YOU haven’t said much”…..
Example 2
// he GAMbled // and LOST // (high key and high terminatio
n)
LOST // (mid key and mid termination)
LOST // (low key and low termination)
Example 3 p ARE you SURE // p that THAT’S the soLUTion
(a request for a decision) p ARE you SURE // p that THAT’S the soLUTion(invites confirmation)
p ARE you SURE // p that THAT’S the soLUTion
(open a discussion)
Friend Episode
A: Excuse me. I couldn't help overhearing.
You’re marrying Chandler Bing?
B: That’s right.
A: Good luck!
C: Oh, and good luck to you too.
What a nice lady!
David Brazil’s Intonation Diction
Prominence (focused words) Tone Key Termination
From: The Communicative Value of Intonation in English
Prominence
Distinguishes marked from unmarked
syllables.
The focused words that reflect the speaker’s selection and projection under the context of interaction.
Example1: // it’s a BLACKbird // (a particular bird) // it’s a BLACK BIRD // (the color of the bird)
Tone
Pitch movements distinguished by their
particular direction or contour. In Brazil’s study, there are five:
falling,
rising,
fall-rise,
rise-fall
level.
Referring and Proclaiming Tones
A: Where do you go shopping? B: //r Usually // p i GO to the SUPermarket.
Key
A relative pitch level chosen by speakers for
each tone unit, from three choices, low,
middle and high. Key choices are made and
recognized with reference to the key of the
immediately preceding tone unit.
Example: High key A: // i THOUGHT you LIKED living in
london //
B: // i DO //
(emphasis to the agreement)
Example: Low key
Host: This is Mary.
Guest: Pleased to meet you.
Host: // and THIS is PETer //
mary’s HUSband //
Termination
Also a low, middle, or high pitch-level choice,
made by speakers at the beginning or end of
a tone unit.
Example: A: // p i’m LEAVing on FRIday //
B: // p LEAVing //
A: // p i’m LEAVing on FRIday //
B: // p on FRIday //
Example:
// p perHAPS you could HELP him // (a suggestion)
// p perHAPS you could HELP him // (a question)
Sentence Focus Rules Focus Rule 1:
The stressed syllable of a focus word is extra long, extra clear, and has a pitch change.
Examples:
A. My cat eat fish. B. He loves it.
Focus Rule 2The focus word in a sentence is usually a content wo
rd. Examples:
A. He’s driving a car. (noun) B. The baby is crying. (main verbs) C. But only fresh fish. (adjective) D. He eat slowly. (adverb) E. I don’t know why he eats that way.
(question word)
Focus Rule 3
At the beginning of a conversation, the last content word in a clause or sentence is usually the focus word.
Examples:
1. The dog chased a rabbit.
2. What are you doing?
3. I lost my key.
Focus Rule 4After a conversation begins, the new thought in each
sentence is the focus word. Example:
A:I hear you’ve got a boat B:A small boat, yes.A: And a big house.B: Well it’s quite big, I suppose
Focus Rule 5
When there is a disagreement or a correction, the word that corrects the information from the previous statement is the new focus word.
Example:
A: I buy books at the library.
B: No, you borrow books at the library.
Focus Rule 6
When a speaker feels strongly or wants to correct something that was said before, a structure word may be emphasized.
Example:
A: I think she’s either scared or excited.
B: Maybe she’s scared and excited.
Examples:
1. A: Do you think you can do the job?
B: Yes, I can!
2. A: I don’t have to work today.
B: Yes, you do have to work, and right
now.
3. A: Is that cat on the bed again?
B: No, she’s under the bed.
Storytelling and Intonation
Storyteller: quotations vs. direct remarks Context: setting (a shared context is immediately
built) Interaction of characters Conveying emotions: characters’ moods and
intentions Storyteller’s evaluative remarks that project his/her
feelings and emphasis that build up the atmosphere and reflect the context.
Storytelling Extract from “ The Evergreens”
1. He begged for the oak tree to pick
him up but the oak tree looked down and
said "Hmmm, well don't you realize that
my roots grow as deep into the ground
as my leaves grow to the sky. Why I'm
much too important to pick you up little
bird, go away!"
2. And so the little red-wing hopped to a maple tree and asked for shelter. But the maple tree looked down at the tiny red- wing and said "Huh, don't you realize that I am busy making the sweetest of all the saps of all the tree in the forest anywhere. I'm much too busy to talk to you or to help you. Go away little bird!"
3. And so the sad little bird hopped further and came to beneath a mighty birch tree with bright white bark and it asked for shelter. But the tree looked down and said “ Huh! why don't you realize that I am busy growing the finest bark of all the trees in all the forests of all the mountains of all the lands anywhere in the entire world! I'm too busy, I'm too busy for you! Go away little bird!"
4. The mighty pine tree looked down and it
saw the little bird beneath it and it said "Oh
look! A little bird and you've got a broken
branch! Oh well, do you need help? Of
course you do! Here!" and the mighty pine
tree leaned down and swept its mighty
bough around the little bird, picked it up and
drew it close to its great warm heart.
5. And then the pine called to its friends, theother evergreen trees and it said "Oh! Fir Tree?" "Yes?""Fir Tree, look what we've got here. Why it’s alittle bird with a broken branch, we've got to keepit warm this winter, will you help me?" "Yes!" "Good, uh Fir Tree, when the wind blows do your best to move in its way. We can keep our littlefriend warm here in its nest. Would you do that for me?" "Yes, of course!" "Good!"
6. And then the pine turned to its friend the hemlock and said "Oh! Em Hemlock Tree?“ "Yes?" "Er, Hemlock, we've got some little bird here look! Its got a broken branch. When the sun shines, Hemlock, do your best to move out of its way would you so we can keep our little friend here warm. Would you do that for me, Hemlock?"
"Well of course I will!" "Thank you!"
