The structure of intonation patterns

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Questions and tasks:

1. What are the linguistic functions of intonation?

2. Characterise the linguistic functions of intonation.

Key words and expressions:

voice pitch, speech melody, sentence stress, accent, pitch level, pitch range, pitch-and-stress sections

It is generally acknowledged that voice pitch or speech melo­dy and sentence stress or accent are the two main components of intonation. Though these elements are very closely connected, variations in voice pitch are still most important in an intonation pattern.

Pitch Level. Each intonation group has its own pitch-and-stress pattern. Variations in voice pitch or melody occur within the normal range of the speaking voice, i.e. within the interval between its lower and upper limits. For pedagogical expediency three pitch levels are generally distinguished: high, medium, low.

Pitch Range. Pitch range is the interval between two pitch levels or two differently pitched syllables or parts of a syllable. The pitch range of a whole intonation pattern is the interval be­tween the highest-pitched and the lowest-pitched syllables. Pitch ranges may be normal, wide and narrow.

Pitch-and-Stress Sections. Pitch-and-stress sections of an in­tonation pattern containing several stressed syllables are: pre-head, head, nucleus, tail.

Дата добавления: 2015-05-31