The fall-rise

The fall-rise is a combination of the high fall and the low rise.

Statements with the fall-rise are used when the speaker draws a special attention to one element of the sentence for the purpose of contrast and at the same time shows an intention to continue the utterance. On the whole the fall-rise in statements conveys several meanings. It may sound apologetic, appreciative, grateful, regretful, sympathetic, pleading, plaintive, reassuring.

E.g. On ˋweek days I ˏstudy, ∣ but on ˋSaturdays I ˏdon’t. (contrast)

As ˋsoon as I ˌmake it ˏclean∣ the ˌboys make it ˋdirty aˌgain. (regretful)

Exercise 1.

Read the following conversational situations, use the fall-rise. Say what feeling you render.

1. – Don’t you like it? – I don’t, frankly.

2. – Any news of Tim? – He’s coming home soon.

3. – Haven’t you finished it yet? – I’ve only just begun it, as a matter of fact.

4. – It looks like rain, I’m afraid. – Perhaps it would be better to stay at home in that case.

5. – I have had it six years now. – You’ll be buying a new one soon, I imagine.

6. – Why ever bring an umbrella? – It was raining when I left this morning.

7. – I thought of going for a walk. – I’ll come too, if I may.

8. – It was quite an accident. – But I told you not to touch.

9. – He has accepted your offer. – I didn’t dream he would take me seriously.

10. –It’s a wonderful photo. – I knew you would like it.

11. –Help? Certainly. – I was sure I could count on you.

VI

The rise-fall

Statements with the rise-fall imply all the definiteness and finality, associated with the other falling tones.

In addition the rise-fall in statements shows that the speaker is greatly impressed. According to the situation it can express irony, mockery, putting up, sarcasm, challenge, reproach, admiration. So it may express attitude both pleasant and unpleasant from quizzical to challenging and from being pleasantly impressed to admiration. It is often used in echoing prior remarks.

E.g. Harry: I’m tired of lying here on my back with nothing to do. I hate doing nothing.

Nora: Don’t be silly, Harry. ˈYou’ve ˈgot a ˄temperature. (reproach) (Meet the Parkers 12)

A. Sorry, I’m a bit too late.

B. I’m afraid you’ve ˈcome a bit too ˄early. It’s five o’clock in the morning. (sarcasm)

A. His acting was not bad.

B. His acting was ˄marvellous. (admiration)

Here the meaning of the word marvellous itself is intensified. It is contrasted with the previous not bad.

Exercise 1.

Read the following. Use the rise-fall.

1. I ˈdon’t ˈwant to ˈspoil ˈeverything before we ˄start our ˌevening. (emphatic) (Intermediate English. A Date for the Theatre)

2. His ˈstudents were ˏadults∣ and he enˈjoyed the ˈwork im˄mensely. (emphatic) (Intermediate English. Profile: Peter Parker)

3. She ˈonly ˈgot her ˈsecond di˄vorce in the ˌspring. (reproach) (Intermediate English. A Little Gossip)

4. .…the way you ˄usually ˌdo. (reproach) (Intermediate English. A Lost Tie)

5. I suppose it’s ˈstill on the ˈshelf under the ˄dashboard. (emphatic) (Intermediate English. A Lost Tie)

6. You enˈjoy yourself in the ˄process. (admiration) (Intermediate English. Weight Problem)

7. I’ve got to ˈdrink ˈtwo or ˈthree ˄pints. (emphatic) (Intermediate English. Weight Problem)

8. Oh, come on. You’ve ˈprobably ˈdone ˄better than you ˌthink. (emphatic) (Intermediate English. After the Exams)

9. Well, it’s up to you I suppose. But I‘ve had e˄nough of ˌreading. I’m ˈnot ˈgoing to ˈopen aˈnother ˈbook for ˄months. (emphatic) (Intermediate English. After the Exams)

10. Don’t be silly, Harry. ˈYou’ve ˈgot a ˄temperature. (reproach) (Meet the Parkers 12)

11. Well, you beˎgan it by be˄having like a ˌnaughty ˌboy. (reproach)(Meet the Parkers 12)

12. He’s done well in all his exams up to now. But we ˄daren’t ˌcount on his ˌwinningˏone. (emphatic) (Meet the Parkers 3)

Exercise 2.

Read the following conversational situations, use the rise-fall in the answers. Make your utterance much more emphatic and create contrast with the previous sentence.

1. A. The poem is good. - B. The poem is ˄beautiful.

2. A. It’s an interesting place. - B. It’s a be˄wildering place.

3. A. I doubt if it’s true. – B. It’s most unbe˄lievable.

4. A. The coat is bad. – B. The coat is ˄dreadful.

5. A. It smells good. – B. It smells ˄lovely.

6. A. She looks well. – B. She looks ˄happy.

7. A. It’s very cold today. - B. It’s ˄bitterly cold today.

8. A. You are not trying. – B. I most ˄certainly am.

9. A. I like this colour. Do you? – It isn’t e˄xactly the shade I want.

10. A. The party was nice. And the food wasn’t bad. – B. The food was ˄terrible.

Exercise 3.

Read the following statements. Sound definite and categoric. Show that you are anxious.

1. I ˈcan’t ˈfind it ˄anywhere.

2. It is ˈso an˄noying.

3. It ˈcan’t be ˄otherwise.

4. It ˈsimply ˄can’t be.

5. She ˄thanked me.

6. You ˈdon’t ˈknow how ˄ignorant she ˌis.

7. Of ˎcourse│ I ˈknow him ˈvery ˄well.

8. ˎAnyhow, │ we ˈcan’t ˈget there in ˄time.

Exercise 4.

Read the following sentences. Create contrast between the two variants using the rise-fall and the low fall. Comment on the difference.

1. ˈThat would be ˄wonderful! ˈThat would be ˎwonderful

2. I’m aˈfraid it ˄is. I’m aˈfraid it ˎis.

3. I should ˈnever have be˄lieved it. I should ˈnever have beˎlieved it.

4. But she ˈdidn’t ˈsay a ˄word. But she ˈdidn’t ˈsay a ˎword.

5. It ˈlooks as if it’s ˈgoing to ˄rain. It ˈlooks as if it’s ˈgoing to ˎrain.

6. You ˄really ˌmustn’t ˌmake that ˌnoise! You ˈreally ˈmustn’t ˈmake that ˎnoise.

7. It’s ˄perfectly ab˄surd! It’s ˈperfectly abˎsurd.

Exclamations

1. The law fall

2. The high fall

3. The low rise

4. The fall-rise

5. The rise-fall