Intonation of adjections

Utterances may contain words, phrases or clauses (whether at the beginning of a sentence, in the middle or at the end) which are only partially related to the main subject-matter and without which the utterances remain grammatically complete. These are so called adjections which fall into three classes.

1. Parentheses.

a) Initial parenthetical words are of introductory nature. They are used in order to gain time while the speaker is framing out his main remark, or they may show the speaker’s attitude towards the subject-matter: supposition, certainty, satisfaction. Initial parentheses form a separate intonation group, the choice of the nuclear tone is determined by the degree of semantic independence and importance attached to the parenthesis

- Normal/ High pre-head + High Level Head + Low Rise;

- …………………………………………… + Low Fall (sounds weighty, attaching more importance to the utterance);

- …………………………………………… + Fall-Rise (additional emphasis or contrast)

- Initial parentheses which are linked very closely with the main remark as a rule do not form a separate intonation group (“I suppose…, I hope…, I think…, I’m afraid… etc). They may be stressed or partially stressed forming the pre-head of the tune, or they may have a full stress on the important word which becomes part of the head (“well, now, but, oh, certainly, of course, etc).

b) Final parentheses summarize or add some details to the main remark. They are generally pronounced as an unstressed or partially stressed tail of the preceding intonation group. Additional prominence is achieved when parenthetical words in the final position are said as a part of the nucleus of a Falling-rising tune (divided).

c) Parentheses in the middle of the utterance usually convey a side thought, which the speaker wishes to communicate at once without waiting until he has finished the utterance. Parentheses are commonly inserted between two intonation groups, these intonation groups remain unchanged while the parenthesis forms an intonation group of its own, and it is pronounced on a lower pitch and with a quicker tempo than the main remark. A parenthesis may join the first intonation group as a tail or a part of the nucleus.

1. Direct Address.

a) Initial DA calls the listener’s attention to the subject-matter or to the fact that the remark concerns him personally. It usually forms a separate intonation group which may take any of the kinetic tones:

- Low Fall (shows the speaker’s serious attitude to what he is going to say; used in addressing an audience at the beginning of a formal speech);

- Low Rise (at the beginning of an informal speech);

- Fall-Rise (in friendly informal conversations; sometimes though it may suggest a warning or a wish to single out the person named from a number of others).

b) Final and Medial DA does not serve to attract the listener’s attention. It is added as an expression of politeness, affection or criticism. It is therefore unstressed or partially stressed and forms the tail of the tune. DA in the final position may be pronounced as a part of the nucleus of a Falling-Rising tune. In this case the utterance sounds warmer and the address becomes more prominent.

C. Intonation of Reporting Phrases and Reported Speech.

Reporting phrases, or author’s words are used in conversational passages, in novels, and also in live conversations to a very small extent.

a) Initial RP generally form a separate intonation group.

- The Mid-Level (Static) tone is widely used on these phrases, when the stressed syllable of the most important word is pronounced on a steady (unmoving) pitch. Here a static tone is used as a nuclear tone. It shows that the intonation group is semantically incomplete and leads on to the more important part of the utterance.

- Low Rise is also commonly used on initial RP. It shows that the RP is semantically incomplete without the quoted speech.

- Fall-Rise (D) is used instead of a Low Rise when a RP contains a word contrasting in meaning to another word in the given context.

- High/Low Fall can be used on a RP when it is semantically and grammatically complete in itself. It is possible to use the Falling nuclear tone on a semantically incomplete RP only if it requires special emphasis.

b) Final RP form the tail of the tune of the quoted speech. Its pitch pattern therefore is determined by the nuclear tone of the quoted speech (a rising or low tail). The RP may form part of an expanded nucleus – Fall-Rise (D). The important word of the RP carries the rise of the Falling-Rising tone. This intonation pattern is commonly used to express pattern.

Intonation of Reported Speech.

In RS the RP generally form the first (non-final) intonation group of an utterance and it may take nuclear tones Low Rise, Fall-Rise, high Fall, while the RS forms the following (final) intonation group. ARP may not form an intonation group and then the first word of it, important enough to take a full stress, becomes the head of the whole utterance, or otherwise it is pronounced as its pre-head (unstressed or partially stressed).

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