English Intonation Patterns

III.  English Intonation Patterns

There are 5 major pitch contours in English in our everyday speech.

-----  Fall

-----  Rise

-----  Fall-rise

-----  Rise-fall

-----  Level

A.  Falling intonation

Falling intonation pattern occurs on the positive and negative statements as well as the wh-questions on the last stressed syllable.

Examples:

Timothy enjoys reading.                (positive statement)

He does not like jungle-trekking.     (negative statement)

What books does he like to read?   (wh-question)

B.  Rising intonation

Rising intonation pattern occurs on the last final stressed syllable:

----- the questions which you will give ‘Yes / No’ answer.

----- in  greeting

----- making a request

----- asking for repetition.

-----  a statement followed by a question tag

** The wh-questions are used when we ask for the information to

     be repeated.

Examples:

Is Ali here?  

How are you?

Could you do me a favour?

Could you lend me this book for a while?

What did you say just now?

He can work on his own, can’t he?

It is the direction of the pitch movement on the last stressed (tonic) syllable for the falling or rising intonation.

C.  Fall-rise Intonation 

It can occur on a single syllable or  stretch over several syllables.

The pattern fall-rise is used when the speaker pauses and continues.  The pattern falls in statements/ wh-questions in the last tonic syllable.  It is fall-rise-fall.

Well, he is a TV addict but he works hard, too.

At first, the panel of critics were amused at Susan Boyle’s

appearance but ……….

D.  Rise-fall Intonation

This intonation pattern can occur on a single syllable or stretch over several syllables. 

To express surprise or impress, for examples:

Susan Boyle sang so well that she ……