Method of indicating intonation on the staves

Unstressed syllables are represented by dots, stressed syllables are marked by dashes or curves.

The temporal component of intonation can be indicated graphically only as far as pauses are concerned.

Two vertical bars || denote a long pause, which usually occurs at the end of a sentence.

A single vertical bar | denotes a short pause inside a sentence.

Fundamental intonation patterns and their use

Section One

Intonation Pattern I

(Low pre-head +) Low fall (+ tail)

Stress-and-tone marks in the text: Low Fall: | _\ |

Half-stressed syllables: | _׀ |

Unstressed syllables have no graphic indication in the text.

The Low Fall in the nucleus starts from the mid-level or lower and usually reaches the lowest level.

The unstressed syllables which form the tail are pronounced on the lowest level pitch. The unstressed syllables forming the pre-head are pronounced either on the low level pitch or rise gradually.

This intonation pattern is used:

l. In statements, final, categoric, calm, reserved.

e. g. Whose book is this? - It's _\Mother's.

2. In special questions, calm, serious, flat, reserved, very often unsympathetic.

e. g. One book is missing. - _\Which?

3. In imperatives, calm, unemotional, serious.

e. g. I'll send it to him. - _\Don't.

How can I get in touch with Nick? - _\Phone him.

4. In exclamations, calm, unsurprised, reserved.

e. g- Would you like an apple? - _\Thank you.

He's just arrived. - _\Fine!

Exercises

Low fall only

1. a)* Listen carefully to the following conversational situations. Concentrate your attention on the intonation of the replies.

* Material for exercises marked with one asterisk is borrowed from the book by J. D. O'Connor, G. F. Arnold "Intonation of Colloquial English", L., 1956, 1973.

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