23. Intonation of Reporting Phrases in Reported Speech

In Reported speech the Reporting phrase generally forms the first (non-final) intonation-group of an utterance while the main remark (grammatically transformed quoted speech) forms the following group. Like all non-final groups, Reporting phrases may take various nuclear tones: low rising, falling-rising, falling.

I want to ask you if you would like to join us.

I’d like to know, why he is here.

A Reporting phrase 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 p r e h e a d (unstressed or partially stressed):

I wonder if they know about our decision.

He says he never does it alone.

24. Initial Direct Address

Direct Address is placed at the beginning of an utterance when the speaker wants to call his listener's attention to the subject-matter or to the fact that the remark concerns him (the listener) personally. It usually forms a separate intonation-group which may be pronounced with any of the nuclear tones. The choice of the tone does not depend on the communicative type of the utterance but is determined by the speaker's attitude to the situation. The Falling tone on a Direct Address shows the speaker's serious attitude to what he is going to say:

John,| I 'want you to 'tell me what happened.

Peter, | 'are you 'ready with your report?

This pattern, therefore, is suitable in addressing an audience at the beginning of a formal speech:

'Ladies and Gentlemen, | let me...

The Falling-Rising tone is normally used on an initial Direct Address in informal conversation to convey the speaker's warm and friendly attitude:

^vKitty, \ 'why 'aren't you eating |anything?

^vHarry, \ 'will you 'help me with the vacuum-cleaner?

This tone may sometimes suggest a warning or a wish to single out the person named from a number of others:

^vMary,| 'join your younger 'sister in the dining-room. 'Let 'Mike 'do his 'homework alone.

Direct Address at the beginning of an informal speech can also be pronounced with a Low Rising tone:

My friends, I am 'happy to meet you here tonight.

25 Final and Medial Direct Address

Direct Address placed at the end of an utterance does not serve to attract the listener's attention. It is added simply as an expression of politeness, affection or criticism. It is, therefore, either unstressed or only partially stressed and forms the tail of a tune:

'Can you 'post these /letters for me, 'Brian?

Of course, |father.

'What's worrying you,, Catherine?

Oh, 'nothing ^vserious, 'mum.

Final Direct Address may become part of a Falling-Rising Divided nucleus. When this intonation pattern is used the utterance sounds warmer and the address is more prominent

You 'look 'very Mired, Jane.

Direct Address placed in the middle of an utterance is pronounced in the same way as final address.

I 'don't mean to say, |Jack, | that it's your fault.

26. Common features of friendly conversational formulas (greetings, expressions of gratitude).

According to the degree of politeness expressed, it is possible to divide conversational formulas of all types into 3 broad groups: normal (neutral), friendly (very polite, warm, lively), casual (perfunctory). In each type of conversational formulas (Greetings, Expressions of Gratitude, etc.) these three groups are distinguished in oral speech by intonation.

The common feature of all friendly formulas is that they are pronounced with a Falling-Rising tone (Undivided or Divided), preceded by a high level or a sliding head (if there is any):

⁴ Thanks a /lot. Good-^vbye.

All casual formulas take a Low-Rising tone preceded by a low prenuclear part (prehead or head):

Hallo.

Not at /all.

That's all /right. • ^ /Sorry.

Such phrases are used between people on familiar terms, who meet regularly, or in a situation where the expression of gratitude or apology is but a mere formality.

Normal Greetings, Expressions of Gratitude and Apologies are characterized by the Falling nuclear tone, generally combined with a high level or stepping head and low or high prehead.

Conversational formulas called normal (neutral) are suitable in various kinds of situations. Depending on , the wording and the speaker's voice-colouring they may sound sincere and serious or formal and brisk.

It must be noted that some of the formulas tend to be pronounced with one pattern more frequently than with any other. Thus, "Excuse me" used initially in a conversation most typically has a Falling-Rising tone:

— Excuse me. Can you 'show me the way to the 'nearest hotel? "Pardon", when used interrogatively, is always said with a High Rise:

— Who's that boy? -'Pardon?

— I'm asking you about that boy.