Theory sheet 6:

Intonation Contours 2 and 2a and the Attitudes Conveyed by Them

Intonation Contour 2: (Low Pre-Head+) (Descending Head/High Head+) LOW RISE (+Tail)

Intonation Contour 2a: (Low Pre-Head+) Low Level Head + LOW RISE (+Tail)

Utterances pronounced with Intonation Contour 2 sound non- categoric, non-final and also can convey soothing, genuinely interested, friendly attitudes.

Intonation Contour 2a renders the following attitudes and meanings: encouraging further conversation, casual, or calmly disapproving, warning, critical, menacing.

Intonation contours 2 and 2a can be used in statements, interrogative and imperative sentences, exclamations.

1. When used in statements, IC 2 makes them sound non-categoric, soothing and reassuring or even patronizing (it is a tone frequently used by adults to very young children). It may sometimes give a hint of self-confidence and self-reliance.

E.g. I promise I won’t tell anyone.

There’s nothing to worry about.

I’ll be back next week.

IC 2 is a typical contour for non-final sense-groups very closely connected with the following sense-group.

E.g. I’d no sooner set my eyes on him| (than I knew he was seriously ill).

We took the car| (and drove to London).

IC 2a may encourage further conversation or may be guarded, reprovingly critical, even grumbling; resentful, bored.

E.g. (Have you been there?) – I have.

(You must apologize.) – I don’t see why I should.

He didn’t help me.

2. The most typical intonation contour for general questions in unemphatic speech is IC 2. The speaker sounds generally interested, warm, friendly and reassuring.

E.g. Have you seen “The Titanic”?

Will there be room enough for all of us?

Can I help you?

IC 2a gives a disapproving, sceptical ring to a general question.

E.g. Does it matter?

Are you sure this is the right decision?

3. When pronounced with IC 2, special questions indicate that the speaker is sympathetically interested.

E.g. What’s your name?

How soon will you be back?

IC 2a can also be used in special questions. With the nuclear tone on the interrogative word a special question sounds wondering, mildly puzzled.

E.g. How many times must you read the text?

Where shall we go?

When the nuclear tone follows the interrogative word the question sounds calm but very disapproving.

E.g. Where have you been all this time?

Who’s going to pay for it?

4. Tag interrogatives pronounced with the low- rise show that the speaker expects the listener to confirm the fact he stated; in other words, he means to provoke the listener’s reaction. The element of uncertainty is very often apparent when the low-rising intonation is used in tag questions.

E.g. You know about it, don’t you?

He’s passed, hasn’t he?

When the low-fall is used in tag interrogatives, the speaker conveys the impression that he is not only convinced that what he says is right, but also that he is sure that the listener agrees.

5. The most usual way of pronouncing alternative questions is to make two sense-groups and to use the low- rising tone in the first sense-group and the low-falling tone in the last one.

E.g. Would you like tea| or coffee?

The final fall shows that these are the only choices and that the list is complete.

6. Commands and requests pronounced with IC 2 sound soothing, encouraging, calmly patronizing.

E.g. Cheer up.

Don’t worry.

Have a good time.

IC 2a in commands beginning with “Don’t” sounds reprovingly critical, resentful; in a few short commands – calmly warning, exhortative.

E.g. Don’t do that again.

Slowly.

Be careful.

7. IC 2 is used to express airy, casual yet encouraging, often friendly exclamations. They sound brighter when IC 2 is used.

E.g. Well done!

Good luck!

Don’t let him bully you.

IC 2a is used when the speaker is reserving judgement or casually acknowledging a fact.

E. g. Thanks! Nice work!