Introduction to Intonation in English

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

Speaking and understanding English doesn’t just come from using correct grammar and vocabulary. Native English speakers convey meaning in their sentences with pitch — the ups and downs and the musical notes of their sentences.

Example

The following two sentences contain the same words. But is there a difference in their meanings?

1) “She got a dog.”

2) “She got a dog?!”

In these two simple sentences, the focus word of the sentence–the word that gets the most emphasis–is “dog”.

But what happened with the sound of the focus word?

In sentence one, the intonation went DOWN to indicate the completion of the thought.

1) “She got a dog.”

In sentence two, the intonation went way UP, to indicate surprise.

2) “She got a dog?!”

The patterns of ups and downs of your voice (and your pitch) on and after the focus word–which is usually at the end of a sentence or question–is called intonation.

3 Intonation Patterns

In English, there are three intonation patterns:

1) Rise
2) Full fall
3) Partial fall

Listen and Repeat

the following examples of intonation patterns. The focus word is underlined in each sentence.

To complete a thought | FALL

“I got a dog.” | FALL

To ask a wh-question (what, where, who, why, when, how) | FALL

“How are you?” | FALL

To express surprise | RISE

“Your dog speaks English?!” | RISE

Need clarification/repetition | RISE

“WHO got a dog?” | RISE

Make a list | PARTIAL RISE + FULL FALL

“My dog is smart, pretty and sweet.”) | PARTIAL RISE (+ FULL FALL) (notice the pausing between words)

Not finished your thought | NO CHANGE →

“I want a dog, but…” | NO CHANGE (FOLLOWING A PARTIAL FALL) →

So, remember. Speaking English isn’t just about correct grammar and vocabulary. You must change your pitch — the ups and downs and the musical notes of your voice — to convey proper meaning, emotion and expression.

Series on Intonation in English

ElementalEnglish.com is your resource for free English language and pronunciation lessons, 無料オンライン英語教材, 免费在线英文课程, 免費在線英文課程, मुफ़्त ऑनलाइन अंग्रेज़ी, آنلائن مفت میں انگریزی سیکھئے, Kostenloser Englisch-Unterricht Online, Język angielski online, Học tiếng anh miễn phí, Libreng Pag-aaral ng Wikang Ingles sa Internet, Libreng Pag-aaral ng Wikang Ingles Online, دروس في اللغة الانجليزية على الانترنت مجانا, American English pronunciation, アメリカ英語の発音, 纯正美语发音, 純正美語發音, अमरीकी अंग्रेज़ी, امریکی انگریزی کا تلفّظ سیکھئے, Amerikanisches Englisch Aussprache, wymowa język angielski, Học tiếng anh miễn phí, Wastong Pagbigkas ng American English sa Internet, astong Pagbigkas ng, تعلم اللهجة الامريكية على الانترنت, American English Online