Definition of intonation

04.04.2012

The term intonation has been used interchangebly with the term prosody since the 60 of the 20 centrury. Before that the term prosdy the term @prosody@ was used in rhytoric and poetry, the term intonation was used in linguistic matters. In English linguistic tradition intonation is normally associated with pitch and confined to the pitch component only. Intonation operates as the linguistic level starting vfrom a phrase whereas prosody has a wider domain. It is operational starting from microprosodic to the whole text (macroprosodics). In the Russian tradition intonation is viewed as larger number of components. Linguists normally called it a wholistic approach. The most common and adequatecorrecet definition of prosody is as follows:

Intonation is /// formed by communicative relevant combination ///

- voice pitch (speech melody)/ pitch component

- the prominence of words (their accent)

- tempo, rhythm and position?

- Voice tembre, voice quality

This complex unity serve to express a proper grammatical structure and lexical composition, the speakers thoughts, volition, attitudes towards reality and the contents of the utterance.

- Pitch component

- Voice component

- Tembral component

- Temporal component

In prosodic analysis there are 3 disnticntions:

- Acoustic level at which the properties of soundwaves can be objectively measured; Duration being equivavalent to the length of a segment of speech; Spectral characteristics with voice quality

- The listeners level at which loudness, pitch, length and voice quality are the listener`s???

- The linguistic level which concerned \ tone usage??? – the term intonation is most commonly used. The most linguistic prosodic feature is pitch. Voice quality is usually refer as a marginal element. It is least linguistic.

Each prosodic feature is a system in itself or subsystem which posseses certain units relative in character:

- Subsystem of simple and complex tones,

- Pitch range catagories: normal, wide, narrow

- Accent

- Tempo: normal, fast and slow

- Unit poses, long poses, extra-long poses, functionally: syntactic poses, hesitation posess

- Voice presentations: creeky, hasky, treble, etc

- Rhythm: constant or variable, glissando or staccato

The functions performed by intonation in speech

Intonation is normally performing syntactic, discourse, attitudinal functions

1. The syntactic function consists in signaling the boundaries sduch as clauses and subject groups. It serves to signal the degree kohijn and???. Perfoming this function intonation has following two techniques: phrasal (sense groups, tone groups, intonation phrases, tone untis, breathe groups and and syntagms): besides pitch change other prosodic features mark such boundaries, posetion, changes in the rate of delivery, creeky voice quality to accompany to the fallingg tone in the end of the utterance. Prtoper phrasing helps to disambiguate sentences like:

They decorated the girl with flowers.- They decorated the girls with flowers.

My sister who lives in the south has just arrived - My sister who lives in the south has just arrived

The conservatives who liked the proposal were very pleased - The conservatives who liked the proposal were very pleased

The correspondence with a syntactic unit is considered the basic, neutral or unmark case of a intonation unit. However the syntactic bounds are interfere with a intonation means.

She is rather a good student.

Therewas a huge crowd in the square.

In some cases the speaker could pause before the conjuction in order to add more emphasis.

Such discord between syntax and sintagmatic division creates a marked division:

The way in which the speaker breaks up the sentence depend on what he wants to put

This unit may be cooextensive with a word even one interjection

How much morrow does beauty beauteous see.

It may coincide with a separate sentence or part of it. There is an important disnction between asense group and an intonation group, because one intonation group may cover two or even more sense groups.

I think he is late

2. Tones – often considered as syntactic function. The choice of tonesis attributed to the pragmatic function of intonation, which is wholly depends on the speaker`s pragmatic aim. An apology may be differentiated from an expression asking for repetition. A straightforward statement differentiated from a warning.

The accentual function of intonation – helps to distinguish new and given topic and comment, theme and rheme. Ideally the onset of the head coincides with the theme. Normally the nuclear stress is on the rheme. In actual speech the theme heme positions may be reversed or the theme may disappear. Still irrespective of their order the higher and wider and wider stress is on the rheme, The lower stress will be on the theme.

Mary Brown is a teacher. – Mary Brown is a teacher. – vice versa

Not nesesseraly the rheme is associated which is repeated from the context about. More often it is the leasts predictable form the situation. Some cases are rather controversial:

Your home is on fire. Your uncle died. Your kettle is burning.

All the information conteted in such sentences is new to the speaker.

3. The attitudional function. It may have other names – the expressiveemotional function. Emotion is turned by Russian scholars, while the attitudes – british linguists. Nontheless there is distinction between attitude and emotion. Emotional states are universal.

Irritation – scandent head + high wide fall.

Sceptical questions – any high head + low narrow fall

Nothing at all serious (resolute, a straight forward statement) – nothing at all serious (friendly, encouragement and reaasucance).

Some authors also attribute the semantic function to intonation. This assumption is based of the meaning of the whole phrase or just one word.

All the rabbits aren`t in the cage.(в клетке нет ни одного кролика) - All the rabbits aren`t in the cage.(не все кролики находятся в клетке).

I have some plans to leave – I have some plans to leave.

It is the country that suits my wife best - It is the country that suits my wife best

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