Intonation: Rising Tone- Falling Tone (Easy way to remember)

         Intonation: Rising Tone- Falling Tone

INTONATION PATTERNS:

Falling Tone:               Remember:  SCWELTR

The falling tune is sometimes referred to as the glide-down. It consists of a fall in the pitch of the voice from a high level to a low level. It is marked [ ` ]

The falling tune is normally used in:

S-Statements(ordinary)- made without any implications, e.g.: I liked it 'very much;  It was 'quite good.

C-Commands- Ex:. Open the ¹window.

W-Wh questions (neutral)- beginning with a question-word such as what, how, where, why, etc., when said in a neutral way, e.g.: 'Who were you `talking to?; . 'What's the matter?

E- Exclamations- Ex: ¹splendid.;  'How extra ordinary!

L-Last item in list- Ex: Tomatoes, brinjals and onions.

T-Tag Questions- when the speaker expects the listener to agree with him,

Ex: It’s a good day, ¹isn’t ¹it? ; It was a 'good film, wasn't it?

R-Rhetorical questions-Ex: Isn’t that ¹kind of her? ; Wasn't that a `difficult exam?

(Note: [ ' ] before a syllable indicates that the following syllable is stressed.).

 

Rising Tone:    Remember:   FIREGUYAE

The rising tune is sometimes referred to as the glide-up. It consists of a rise in the pitch of the voice from a low level to a high level. It is marked [, ].

The rising tune is normally used in:

F-Friendly Questions: questions when said in a warm/friendly way,

Ex: 'How's your daughter?; . 'What's the matter?

I-Incomplete Questions: Incomplete statements,

Ex: It's 'seven o clock (and she hasn't got up as yet.);  I'll buy you a dress (if I go there.)

R-Requests: Polite requests, e.g.:  Go and 'open the window,;  Take it away

E-Echo Questions: when the speaker gives his/her listener the option to disagree with him/her,

Ex:. You're a gardener, aren't you?; . It was a 'good film, wasn't it?

G-Greetings, Partings, Apologies, Encourage.

Ex:. Hello.; 'Good bye.;  I'm so sorry.;  You ought to keep on trying.

U-Uncertainty: Afterthought, doubt, hesitation,

Ex. I'd buy a car, if I could afford it.;  In 'spring it 'rains a lot, generally.

Y-Yes/No questions: Polarity type questions which demand a yes/no answer, (Note: Non-polarity: wh-type) e.g.: 'Are they coming?  'Will you do it?

A-Alternate questions: e.g.: Do you like, tea, coffee or `coke?;  'Shall we drive or go by `train?

E-Enumeration- e.g.: One, two, three, four, five.

(If you wish to express real gratitude, you should say thank you with a falling tune. A rising tune shows a rather casual acknowledgement of something not very important.)