Intonation: Asking a wh-question (what, where, who, why, when, how) (Part 3)

Asking a wh-question (what, where, who, why, when, how) | Part 3

English Pronunciation Lesson

Series on Intonation in English

Part 1: Introduction to Intonation
Part 2: Completing a statement (“I got a dog.”)
⇒ Part 3: Asking a wh-question (“What is your dog’s name?”)
Part 4: Need clarification/repetition (“WHO got a dog?”)
Part 5: Expressing surprise (“Your dog speaks English?!”)
Part 6: Unfinished thought (“I want a dog, but…”)
Part 7: Making a list or in between thoughts (“My dog is smart, pretty and sweet.”)

Introduction

As was explained in the Introduction to Intonation lesson, the musical pattern of ups and downs in your speech–-in both the middle and end of your sentences–-is called intonation.

3 Intonation Patterns

In English, there are three intonation patterns:

1) Rise
2) Full fall
3) Partial fall

These different musical patterns communicate different messages to your listener.

Asking wh-questions

Although the rising intonation pattern is usually associated with questions, only certain types of questions require your voice to go up at the end of the sentence.

To ask a wh-question, which starts with one of the words:

“what”
“where”
“who”
“why”
“when”
“how”

and to request more information from the listener, the speaker’s pitch should go down.

This is most often heard in the very common question:

“How are you?”

Could you hear my voice go down on “you” at the end?

“How are you?”

If I asked:

“How are you?”

with a rising pitch, it would simply sound strange.

Listen and Repeat

“When did you last go there?” ← notice how [d] + [y] –> [dʒ])
“How’s it *goin’ today?” ← it is not correct to write “goin'”, but some do say it without the [g]).
“Why can’t you just do the work like I asked?” ← notice how I pronounced the consonant cluster “asked”)
“What’s it *gonna take to get this done?” ← it is not correct to write “gonna”; many do transform the verb “going to” in informal speech)
“Where’s the best restaurant around here?”
“Who would ever believe that you guys are twins?”

Remember that native English speakers use intonation unconsciously and out of habit. So, if they don’t hear the correct intonation pattern, they may not understand your message as you intended it.

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