Intonation

 hmmm, Intonation may be defined as the rise and fall of the voice in connected speech. Each language has its own characteristic sequences of pitch umlike those of any other language. In fact, even within the different dialects of the same languages, some differences exist. If we were to use the intonation patterns of the vernacular when we speak English, we would not be able to convey our meaning effectively.

In English speech, stress and intonation are very closely related to each other. An increase of stress is generally accompanied by a change in the pitch, more often in an upward direction. Some of the common Filipino mistakes in intonation are accompanied by mistakes of stress. Thus if one says incorrectly:

instead of

one makes a mistake not only in intonation but also in stress. When we raised the pitch in THERE, we put an emphasis on a word that should receive less importance than GOD or BELIEVE, and which should have been said with a low pitch.


In English, we generally use three pitch levels:

a. Average or normal pitch. (sometimes called pitch 2)

           This pitch is generally used with unstressed words and syllables.

           It is indicated by a line below the syllable as in the sentence above:

b. Above average. (sometimes called pitch 3)

This pitch is generally used with stressed syllables.

It is indicated by a line above the syllable:

c. Below average pitch. (sometimes called pitch 1)

This pitch is generally used at the end of a sentence with a downward intonation

It is indicated by a line far below the syllable.

Occasionally, we hear a fourth pitch

d. High pitch. (sometimes called pitch 4)

This is pitch generally indicates great emotion like suspense and fear and is seldom used.

HOW WONDERFUL!

In English there are two types of pitch changer or movements:

a. The Shift - a pitch change between two syllables.
This is indicated by a vertical line connecting two different pitches.

b. The Inflections or Syllable Glide - a pitch change within a syllable.

This is indicated by a diagonal line connecting two different pitches.

An inflection occurs when the last syllable of a sentence with a falling intonation is stressed.

When we say a sentence, our pitch rises and falls as we stress and unstressed our syllables. This rise and fall of the pitch, forms what we term the intonation pattern of the sentence. Intonation is sometimes termed speech melody.

IN GENERAL: English has two main final intonation patterns.

I. A downward or falling intonation generally used at the end of

a. simple statements of fact.

b. commands

c. questions which cannot be answered by "yes" or "no".

Note the syllabic glides in sentences 2, 3, and 5. Note the shifts in sentences 1, 4 and 6.

II. An Upward intonation used at the end of questions that may be answered by "yes" or "no".

English has many types of non-final intonation patterns, which the beginner may study later on. For the time being he may just remember one general rule:

An upward intonation is used after phrases which express an incomplete thought.