3.3.2 Functions

Static and kinetic tones differ not only in form but also in function. Static tones give prominence to words. The degree of prominence is proportional to the pitch height of the static tone: the higher varieties are usually associated with greater prominence. Kinetic tones are more important for the utterance. Alongside with stressing the words they

1) indicate the communicative type of an utterance;

2) express the speaker’s attitude towards the subject-matter, the listener and the situation;

3) single out the center of new information in an utterance or the point of greater semantic importance as viewed by the speaker.

The total number of tones (both static and kinetic) in an utterance is determined by the number of important (prominent) words; most typically there are from 1 to 5 tones. The tone carried by the most important word (which is generally the last notional word) is called the nuclear tone, it is always a kinetic tone.

The term “tone” should be distinguished from the term “tune” which is used to refer to the pitch pattern of the whole intonation group. The notion of tune is wider than that of tone. A tune may comprise several tones. A tune of a minimal size coincides with a tone realized in a monosyllabic utterance, e. g.: ‵Yes. ,Well.

3.4 The structure of the intonation groups

The stressed and unstressed syllables within a tune form several component parts according to their position and function in the tune: the prehead, the head, the nucleus, the tail.

Pre-head – Head – Nucleus – Tail

(Pr) – (H) – (N) – (T)

The pre-head:

Unstressed syllables before the head.

The head:

The section from the first fully stressed syllable (called the onset syllable) up to –– but not including the nucleus.

The nucleus:

The syllable which gets the strongest stress, associated with significant pitch movement (kinetic stress). This stress is called the nuclear, or tonic stress, and is almost always found in a notional word in utterance final position.

The tail:

Whatever syllables follow the nucleus, they continue with the pitch pattern of the nucleus.

The number of the component parts in a tune may vary. The only indispensable element of a tune is the nucleus. The other components may or may not be present in a tune. This depends on the length of the utterance, the phonetic structure of the words (monosyllabic or polysyllabic) and the number of prominent words in it. For example:

Table 1 - The structure of the intonation group

Prehead	Head	Nucleus	Tail
We have	‘met ‘Tommy at the	‵sea-	side.
	‘Joshua’s twenty-	‵two.
Here’s your		,mo-	ney, Miss Black.

Ex. 1 Compare the semantic prominence of the syllables bearing high, mid and low static tones.

1 I think you are being very silly. 2 Sometimes we’d get our clothes wet | and the nurse would get very cross. 3 Take your car with you, | if you’ve got one | choose a good ho tel | and you are sure to spend a thoroughly en joyable time. 4 Let me see, | half past e leven. 5 You can walk up and down the front, | listen to the band on the pier | and do more or less anything you like.

Ex. 2 Indicate the semantic centre in the following utterances by a kinetic tone.

1 When you get the key | go to my room | and look in the cupboard | and in there | you’ll find a round tin | with another key in it.

2 You come out at the car park | and turn right | and after you’ve got a little way | you’ll come to the roundabout.

Ex. 3 Extend the following tunes pronouncing the phrases given in brackets a) as the head, b) as the prehead, c) as the tail.

a) Model: It’s wonderful. (I think) - I think its wonderful.

1 It’s very important for you. (I believe)

2 He’ll be greatly surprised at it. (I expect)

3 It was amazing. (They say)

4 They are coming next week. (I hear)

5 It’s been impossible so far. (I am told)

6 He’s seen us. (I wonder if)

2. Model: They’ll go to the British Museum. (I think) – I think they’ll go to the British Museum.

1 Influenza is a catching disease. (I wonder if)

2 You’ll soon get used to getting up early. (I hope)

3 Smoking can damage one’s health. (They say)

4 The furniture will cost a lot of money. (I’m afraid)

c) Model: The guests at the dinner were a galaxy of film stars. (I hear) - The guests at the dinner were a galaxy of film stars I hear.

1 Peter used to ware a moustache and a beard. (I hear)

2 Hotels are too expensive for us. (I’m afraid)

3 The group will have a guided tour of the Gallery. (She says)

Unit 4 Basic Nuclear Tones of English