2. In questions:
a) In special questions, sounding interested, brisk, business-like.
е.g. I've just seen that new musical. — `What is it `called?
b) In general questions, conveying mildly surprised acceptance of the listener's premises; sometimes sounding sceptical, but without the impatience of the structure Rising Head+High Fall . (The question is put forward as a subject for discussion.)
е.g. Shall we try again? — Well 'would it be any `use?
3. In imperatives, sounding lively; suggesting a course of action to the listener.
е.g. The tea's too hot. — `Put some more `milk in it.
4. In exclamations, conveying mild surprise but without the affront of the structure Rising Head+High Fall.
е.g. Look, it's snowing. — `Oh, `yes!
The Fall + Rise is a combination of the High Fall and the Low Rise.
The fall and the rise always occur on separate syllables. The fall starts from a very high level and ends very low. Any syllables occurring between the High Fall and the Low Rise are said on a very low pitch. Notional words are stressed. The falling part marks the idea which the speaker wants to emphasize and the rising part marks an addition to this main idea.
The combination of the High Fall with the Low Rise is used in sentences expressing highly emotional reaction to the situation. It is often heard:
1. In statements, sounding apologetic, appreciative, grateful, regretful, sympathetic, persuasively reassuring, pleading, plaintive.
е.g. Whose turn is it then? — It's `mine ,actually.
How did this get broken? — I'm most `terribly ,sorry.
2. In questions:
a) In special questions, sounding plaintive, pleading, weary, despairing; sometimes warm, sympathetic.
е.g. Sorry I'm late. — Oh why „can't you „come on /time for once?
b) In general questions, conveying a plaintive, pleading, sometimes impatient tone.
е.g. He played very badly today. — Will he ever be any ,better d'you think?
3. In imperatives, sounding plaintive, pleading, reproachful.
е.g. It's all so depressing. — `Cheer ,up. (It can't „last for ,ever.)
I've nothing to do with it. — Now `do be ,reason-able, Charles.
4. In exclamations, warm, sympathetic, encouraging, sometimes plaintive, puzzled, surprised.
Greetings and leave-takings sound pleasant and friendly being pronounced this way.
е.g. Good night, Peggy. — Good night, Mrs. ,Smith. See you on Friday. — Right you ,are!
(Low pre-head + ) (descending head + ) mid-level (+ tail)
Stress-and-tone marks in the text: Mid-Level Tone: | > |.
The mid-level tone in the nucleus is pronounced on the medium level with any following tail syllables on the same level.
This intonation pattern is usually used in non-final intonation-groups expressing non-finality without any impression of expectancy.
Mention here the use of ML Tone in simple sentences with adverbials, parenthesis, etc.
Accidental Rise
If the speaker wants to make one word of the descending head more prominent than the others he
pronounces it a little higher than the preceding syllables thus breaking their descending succession. This nonfinal rise is called accidental. It never occurs on the first stressed syllable as this syllable is always the highest in the descending head.
The Simple Sentence. Intonation of Adverbials.
Simple, sentences with adverbial phrases at the beginning are usually divided into two intonation-groups.
The non-final intonation-group is usually pronounced with the low-rising or mid-level tone.
. g. At ‘two o'/clock | we shall have \dinner.
At ‘ two o' > clock | we shall have \dinner.
Adverbial phrases at the end of sentences do not form separate intonation-groups, as a rule, and often remain u n s t r e s s e d .
e. g. We are ‘ going \out tonight.
Sequence of Tones. Complex Sentences
If an adverbial clause precedes the principal one and makes a separate intonation-group, it is usually
pronounced with the Low Rise or Mid-Level as it implies continuation.
e. g. If you want to have a > rest, | go to the \country.
If you want to have a /rest, | go to the \country.
In case the complex sentence begins with the principal clause and contains more than one intonation-group both the clauses are usually pronounced with the low-falling nuclear tone.
e. g. Go to the \country | if you want to have a \rest.
If the principal clause implies continuation and makes a separate intonation-group it is pronounced with the low-rising or falling-rising nuclear tone.
e. g. I'll tell him at /once | you want to \see him.
