Basic intonation patterns

The great variety of possible patterns can be reduced to eight intonation contours based on eight main tones used in the nucleus. These tones when combined with different heads, tails and pre-heads give rise to a few significant variations of the intonation contours(IC).

IC-I based on Low Fall for the nucleus:

1. No Head

Falling Head + Low Fall - complete, final, definite, firm

High Level Head

Medium Level Head

2. Low Level Head + Low Fall - cool, calm, detached, reserved, disapproving

3. Stepping Head + Low Fall - categoric, weighty, serious, scolding

4. Sliding Head + Low Fall - concern, personal involvement

5. Scandent Head + Low Fall - self-satisfied, playful, joyful

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IC-II based on High Fall for the nucleus:

1. No Head

Falling Head + High Fall - final, categoric, light, airy, brisk, interested

High Level Head

2. Rising Head + High Fall - protesting, irritated, disapproving

3. Stepping Head + High Fall - scolding, instructive, persuasive

4. Sliding Head + High Fall - intense emphatic variant

5. Scandent Head + High Fall - playful, self-satisfied, smug, awed, delighted

IC-III based on Low Rise for the nucleus:

1. No head

Falling Head + Low Rise - non-categoric, encouraging further conversation

High Level Head

2. Low Level Head + Low Rise - guarded, critical, disapproving, wondering, resentful

3. Stepping Head + Low Rise - self-confident, disbelieving, reproachful, cold

IC-IV based on High Rise for the nucleus:

1. No Head

Medium Level Head + High Rise - echoing, repeating, calling for the repetition

High Level Head

2. Rising Head + High Rise - unpleasant surprise, disapproving, threatening

IC-V based on Rise-Fall for the nucleus:

1. No Head

Falling Head + Rise-Fall - impressed, awed, self-satisfied

High or Medium Level Head

2. stepping Head + Rise-Fall - censorious, antagonistic

IC-VI based on Fall-Rise for the nucleus:

1. No Head

Falling Head + Fall-Rise - contradicting, reproachful

2. High Level Head + High Fall-Rise - apologetic, appreciative, regretful, pleading

3. Low pre-head + Sliding Head + Fall-Rise - concerned, reproachful, hurt, regretful

We distinguish Fall-Rise undivided (when it occurs within one stressed syllable) and divided (when the fall occurs on one of the initial syllables of the intonation group and the rise on one of the final syllables; there may be stressed and unstressed words between the fall and the rise, but they are pronounced on a low pitch note).

IC-VII based on Rise-Fall-Rise has only occasional emphatic usage. It has the same attitude as in IC-VI, the emphasis being intensified.

IC-VIII based on Mid-Level in non-final intonation groups expresses non-finality, imply continuation. In final intonation groups it is rare.

The general shape of an intonation contour is in most cases clear enough from the pitches of the stressed syllables among which the nucleus is the most important one. The pitch of the unstressed syllables is important for the complete meaning of the utterance. It can express the attitudinal features or the emotional state of the speaker.

Дата добавления: 2015-05-31