9. Intonation of reporting phrases and reported speech

Initial Reporting Phrases

Initial reporting phrases generally form a separate intonation group. The most tone is Mid-Level. Intonation-group is semantically incomplete and leads on to the more important part of the utterance. Anthony answered: “I’ve been ᶦlooking for a ᶦman like you”.

In reading aloud- Low Rise.

Fall-Rise Divided is used instead of the Low Rise when the Reporting phrase contains a word contrasted in meaning with another word(in given context):

-The ᶦyounger boy said: “The film is boring”

The Falling nuclear tone(High or Low) when it is semantically and grammatically complete and requires greater prominence.

Final Reporting Phrases

In the final position the Reporting phrase usually forms the tail of the tune of the Quoted speech. After Rising and Falling-Rising nuclear tones the Reporting phrase is rising, and it is pronounced on low pitch after a Falling tone:

The Reporting phrase may form part of an expanded nucleus of a Fall-Rise Divided Tune. The important word of the Reporting phrase then carries the rise of the Falling-Rising

Intonation of Reporting Phrases in Reported Speech.

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