English Pronunciation: Intonation, Rhythm, and Tone

PH-(O)H-N-T (Nuclear Tone)

Stress-Timed Language

Stress-timed language means there is an equal amount of time from one stressed syllable to the next.

Syllable-Timed Language

Syllable-timed language refers to the time to express a sentence, which will be determined by the number of syllables.

Isochrony

Isochrony in English rhythm tends to preserve equal intervals of time between stressed syllables, irrespective of the number of syllables that come between them.

Rhythm

Rhythm is determined by pitch, loudness, and speed.

Intonation

Intonation is how the pitch of a voice rises and falls, and how speakers use this pitch to convey linguistic and pragmatic meaning.

Tone Language

A tone language is one where the tone can determine the meaning of a word. For example, Chinese.

Intonation Language

An intonation language is one where the differences in tone are used syntactically instead, to express attitudes such as anger or surprise, or to make questions.

Tonality

Tonality is the division into chunks (adverbs, question tags, non-defining relative clauses).

Tonicity

Tonicity is where the nucleus goes.

Content Words

Content words are nouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs. They have meaning and can be defined in a dictionary.

Function Words

Function words are pronouns, prepositions, articles, auxiliary verbs, and modal verbs.

Compound Words

In compound words, stress the first syllable.

Double Stress-Compounds

In double stress-compounds, the main stress goes in the second element.

Old Information

Old information is de-accented or could be replaced by synonyms.

New Information

New information is accented.

Focus

Focus is the concentration of attention on a particular part of the message.

Broad Focus

Broad focus indicates new information.

Narrow Focus

Narrow focus indicates old information.

Vocatives

Vocatives at the beginning are accented and have their own intonational phrase (IP). In the final position, they are de-accented.

Adverbs

Adverbs are usually accented, but adverbs of time and place are unaccented in the final position, even if they contain new information. They form part of the tail. Adverbs of manner tend to take the nucleus if they are at the end.

Fall (High-Mid Fall)

A fall starts relatively high, and the endpoint is low. We use this when we say something is potentially complete and that we express it with confidence, definitely, and unreservedly. The fall thus also tends to signal finality. We call this tone meaning the definitive fall.

Rises (Low-High Rise)

A rise starts anywhere in the low to mid-range and ends in the middle to high range. The last syllable has the high tone, even though it is unaccented.

Fall-Rise

A fall-rise starts high or in the middle, remains in the middle until the last syllable, when it goes upward again. We use this when there is an incomplete idea. It makes it possible to be tactful and politely indirect; it also makes it possible to be hypocritical and devious.

Encouraging Rise (Rise-Fall-Rise)

An encouraging rise is used when we ask wh-questions but in a more gentle, kindly, encouraging, sympathetic, or deferential way.

Functions of Intonation

Attitudinal Function

The attitudinal function is to express our attitudes and emotions.

Grammatical Function

The grammatical function helps identify grammatical structures in speech, rather as punctuation does in writing. We use intonation to mark the beginning and end of grammatical units such as clauses and sentences (the demarcative function). We do this by tonality.

Focusing Function

We use the focusing function to bring some parts of the message into focus and leave other parts out of focus; to emphasize or highlight some parts and not others. We do this by tonicity and by the placement of other accents.

Discourse (Cohesive) Function

The discourse function functions like the division of written text into sentences and paragraphs. It enables us to signal whether or not we have come to the end of the point we are making; whether we want to keep talking or are ready to give another speaker a turn.

Indexical Function

The indexical function is a marker of personal or social identity. For example, mothers sound like mothers, etc.