6. The low bounce
STATEMENTS
Such statements tend to sound soothing, reassuring; they offer the information as a means of setting the listener's mind at rest; no criticism is implied such as is found with the Take-Off, but there is a hint of great self-confidence or self-reliance on the part of the speaker.
Examples
Where are you going? 'Just to ˚post a ,letter.
I've no head for heights. It's 'all right. You 'won't ,fall.
Are you ready to go? I 'shan't be a ,moment.
In echoed statements, i.e. those which repeat more or less what has just been said by the other person, this tone group turns the statement into a surprised and disbelieving question.
Examples
I said he was a liar. You 'actually ˚called him a ,liar?
He's broken his leg. 'Broken his ,leg?
The same attitude is present in other statements which are not obviously echoes.
Examples
I won the first prize. And you 'didn't ,tell us?
You mustn't drive that car. You 'mean it's ,dangerous?
This tone group is frequently used with non-final groups, when the speaker is leading up to something more.
Examples
'When I a,rrived | there was 'nobody at ‛home. |
I 'opened the °door ,quietly | and 'looked ˎin. ||
As 'soon as you ,see him | 'tell him I'm ˎhere. ||
The effect of the Low Bounce here is to create expectancy regarding whatever is to follow the listener is led to believe that it will be something very interesting.
WH-QUESTIONS
By using the Low Bounce with wh-questions the speaker seeks to establish a bond with the listener, to show interest not only in receiving the information asked for but also in the listener himself. Since this tone group avoids the possible sternness of the Low Drop and the brisk, businesslike attitude of the High Drop, it is a very common way of asking these questions of young children. Among adults too it is often used for an opening question, when the speaker wants to make it absolutely clear that his enquiry is a friendly one, not an attempt to pry or to criticise. Once this friendliness has been established he may then revert, in subsequent wh-questions, to the High Drop as being more businesslike.
Examples
(Hullo, darling.) || 'What have you ˚got ,there?
'What ,train are you thinking of catching?
'Why did you ˚let him ˚think we ˚didn't ,know?
Note that when the nucleus is the interrogative word, the effect of repetition and the puzzlement of the Take-Off returns.
Examples
I saw him at Wembley. You 'saw him ,where?
They did it last week. They 'did it ,when?
In echoed questions this tone group shows disapproval of the questions being asked.
Examples
When are you going home? 'When am I ˚going ,home? || (How dare you!)
How long will you be? 'How ,long? || (How on earth should I know?)
YES-NO QUESTIONS
This is by far the most common way of asking yes-no questions; it should be regarded as the normal way, with the speaker displaying genuine interest in obtaining the information requested. Any other tone group should be used only in the special circumstances outlined in the appropriate place in this chapter.
Examples
'Are you ˚coming ,with us?
'Did you en˚joy the ,play last night?
'Would you mind ˚moving a,long a bit?
When there is no accent before the nucleus, that is, when there is no head, the High Pre-head is used to avoid the scepticism of the Take-Off.
Examples
‾Is ,this the one?
‾Can ,I help at "all?
COMMANDS
Commands with the Low Bounce have the soothing effect of statements with this tone group. They imply that the speaker is somehow, perhaps only temporarily, in a superior position to the listener, with the result that the speaker sounds encouraging and perhaps calmly patronising. For this reason these commands are frequently used to children but less commonly to adults who may find the soothing effect overdone and irritating.
Examples
'Blow your ,nose, dear.
'Move a,long, please.
With either the Low Fall or the High Fall nuclear tones of the Low Drop and the High Drop, commands such as these would sound much more purposeful and insistent.
INTERJECTIONS
This tone group is rather commonly used with a few interjections. The effect is rather brighter than with the Take-Off, not so reserved, but still quite airy and casual and with the encouraging effect mentioned above.
Examples
I'll see you tomorrow. 'Right you ,are.
I've managed it at last. 'Well ,done!
It's my exam tomorrow. 'Good ,luck!
Greetings very frequently employ this tone group, when they sound bright and friendly. If the syllable before the nuclear syllable is accented the effect is rather ponderous; so most often it is unstressed though high in pitch, a High Pre-head being used.
Examples ‾Good ,morning. ‾Hu,llo, there.
Leave-takings are almost invariably in this form since any tone group with a falling nuclear tone sounds too brusque and final, and the Take-Off sounds too reserved. The Low Bounce, however, sounds bright and friendly.
Examples ‾Good ,morning. ‾Good,bye. ‾Good ,night, dear.