Theory Sheet 4:

Intonation Contour 1 and the Attitudes Conveyed by It

Intonation Contour 1: (Low Pre-Head+) (Descending/Stepping Head+) Low Fall (+Tail)

1. Statements: The most typical contour for unemphatic statements is IC 1 which makes the utterance sound complete, final, definite, categoric and firm.

E.g. I haven’t heard from my brother for ages.

It is an extremely difficult case.

The use of the Stepping Head, Sliding Head and Scandent Head with the Low Fall makes utterances sound emphatic.

The Stepping Head with the Low Fall sounds also definite and complete as in the common unemphatic usage but at the same time more categoric, weighty and serious, sometimes even unsympathetic and scolding.

E.g. I’ve told you more than once to stop smoking.

2. General Questions: The most common way of asking general questions is with Low Rise, but when said with the Low Fall, they are put forward as a serious suggestion or a subject for an urgent discussion. The questions sound insistent, assertive, urgent, sometimes sceptical.

E.g. Can I help with anything?

Shall we postpone the meeting then?

Does anyone feel like a walk?

3. Special questions: The most usual intonation contour for unemphatic special questions is IC 1. They sound serious, intense and responsible. Some English phoneticians also mention that special questions with this intonation are sometimes used to suggest impatience and irritability.

E.g. When d’you come back home?

What’s the matter with you now?

Why did you do such a stupid thing?

4. Imperatives (Commands and requests): IC 1 is the most usual intonation pattern for firm, serious and weighty commands.

E.g. Come and see me tomorrow.

Don’t you worry.

5. Exclamations: The most typical exclamatory intonation is achieved by using IC 1. It makes the utterance sound weighty and emphatic.

E. g. Well done!

How ridiculous!

What ghastly weather!

Theory Sheet 5:

Intonation Contour 1a and the Attitudes Conveyed by It

Intonation Contour 1a: (Low Pre-head+) (Low Head*+) Low Fall (Low-Level Tail)

There is an important variant of Intonation Contour 1 with a low head or no head; if there is a pre-head it is also low; the tail is low-pitched.

* Pre-nuclear stressed syllables pronounced on the low pitch level constitute the Low Level Head or Low Head.

E. g. There’s nothing to worry about.

How did you manage to do that?

The Low Level Head usually occurs before the Low Fall or Low Rise.

The speaker pronouncing phrases with Intonation Contour 1a sounds cool, calm, reserved, detached, unemotional, uninterested, sometimes unsympathetic and disapproving, grim and even hostile.

1. Statements: Intonation Contour 1a makes a statement sound complete, definite and categoric, as in the case of Intonation Contour 1. A statement pronounced with this pattern may sound unfriendly, grim, surly.

E.g. I want to talk to you.

I must go now.

2. General Questions: Intonation Contour 1a makes a general question sound detached, phlegmatic, uninterested, sometimes sceptical and hostile.

E.g. A: We shall have to take a taxi.

B: But can we afford it?

3. Special questions: Intonation Contour 1a makes a special question sound reserved, cool, uninterested, flat, unfriendly and unsympathetic, quite often even hostile.

E.g. A: Can you lend me some money?

B: What do you want it for?

4. Commands: Intonation Contour 1a makes a command sound calm, unemotional, often cold.

E.g. Don’t do it again.

Try some of the other keys on the bunch.

5. Exclamations: Intonation Contour 1a makes an exclamation sound calm, reserved, unsurprised.

E.g. A: It was very kind of you.

B: Not in the least.