18. Which component of the intonation pattern is the most important one? why? (то же самое)

Intonation – is a complex structure, a whole, formed by significant variations in pitch, loudness and tempo.

All 3 components of intonation (pitch, loudness and tempo) form the intonation pattern.

Intonation pattern- is the basic unit of intonation.

An intonation pattern has 1 nucleus and may contain (не обязательно. Может быть 1 нюклеус например «Sure»- low fall) other stressed or unstressed syllables preceding or following the nuclear tone.

The intonation pattern may include the following components: the nuclear tone (the nucleus), the head, the pre-head and the tail.

The nucleus – is the syllable that has a greater prominence than the others. The nucleus may be described as a syllable which is marked be a significant change in pitch direction, i.e. where the pitch goes up or down. It is the most important part of the intonation pattern because the intonation pattern doesn’t exist without nucleus. At the same time the inton. pattern may consist of 1 syllable, which will be its nucleus.

Different scholars distinguish nuclear tones according to their classifications:

The nuclear tones are generally grouped into- simple, complex, compound.

R. Kingdon points out the next main nuclear tones in English: Low Fall, High Fall, Low Rise, High Rise, Fall-Rise.

D. Crystall postulates a major division of nuclear tones into two types: falling and rising.

According to J Wells the most basic distinction among English nuclear tone is that between falling and non-falling.

A. Cruttenden claims that there are 3 main factors which are the basis for the classification of nuclear tones in English – the initial movement from the nucleus (fall or rise or level), the beginning point of this initial movement (high or low) and a second change of pitch direction following the nucleus.

The meanings of nuclear tones are difficult to specify in general terms.

Roughly speaking, the falling tone of any level and range expresses – finality, completeness, certainty, independence. e.g. Where is John? – He hasn’t come yet. (come-fall)

A rising tone expresses incompleteness, dependence, uncertainty. This tone conveys the impression that the conversation is not finished and something else is to follow. It implies that the speaker wants to encourage further conversation. e.g. Michael is coming to London. – Is he coming soon? (soon-rise)

The rising tone is frequently used in polite requests, invitations, greetings and farewells. e.g. What shall I do now?- Do go on. (on-rise)

Fall-Rise at the end of the phrase expresses reservation. Asserts smth and suggests that there is smth else to be said.

Do you like pop-music?- Sometimes. (Sometimes –fall-rise)

Non final position of fall-rise expresses non-finality, indicates that another point is to follow. e.g. When I come back//we will talk about it again. (back-fall-rise)

Also the speaker uses fall-rise when he wants to refer to smth already mentioned. e.g. The coat is beautiful!- It’s beautiful (fall-rise), but too expensive!

So the speaker says one thing, but implies smth further- When can we meet? – We could meet on Sunday (fall-rise). (but not on Monday, but it might not suit you). (J. Wells calls this nuc. tone «the implicational fall-rise»)

The falling-rising tone consists of a fall in pitch followed by a rise. If the nucleus is the last syllable of the intonation group the fall and rise both take place on one syllable- the nuclear syllable. Otherwise the rise occurs in the remainder (посл. часть) of the tone unit.

e.g. Do you agree with him?- Yes (fall-rise)

What can I do to mend matters? (исправить ситуацию) – You could apologize (fall) to her (rise).

Level tone is used in 2 main contexts. 1. in short utterances – conveys a feeling of routine, boring. 2. in intonation group boundaries conveying non-finality.

см диалог Food

Mid Level tone is particularly common in spontaneous speech functionally replacing Low Rise.

Rise-Fall and Rise-Fall-Rise add refreshment to speech.