Intonation of parentheses

Utterances may contain words, phrases or clauses which are only partially related to the main subject-matter, and without which they remain grammatically and semantically complete.

Such words, phrases or clauses, generally known as adjections, fall into three classes: 1. Parentheses; 2. Direct address; 3. Reporting Phrases.

INITIAL PARENTHESES

Parenthetical words and phrases at the beginning of an utterance are used for various purposes:

a) in order to gain time before saying the main remark or to call the listener’s attention to what is going to be said; b) to show the speaker’s attitude towards the subject-matter: supposition, certainty, satisfaction, etc.: Unfortunately, Charles doesn’t know about it.

Initial parenthesis often forms a separate intonation-group which has all the typical characteristics of a non-final group: the choice of the nuclear tone in it depends on the degree of semantic independence and importance of the parenthesis.

A common pattern for an introductory parenthetical phrase is the Low Rising nuclear tone preceded by a normal (or high) prehead and high head (if there is any):

As 'far as I ‚know, | you 'passed your e'xams with 'excellent ‘marks.

Parentheses pronounced with the Falling nuclear tone sound weighty and make the whole utterance more important:

‘Anyway, | it’s 'all ‘your problem.

Additional emphasis or contrast is conveyed by the Falling-Rising nuclear tone:

'As for ˇme, | I 'can’t ‘speak Spanish, | but I under'stand ˙nearly ‘everything.

Initial parentheses which are linked very closely with the main remark do not, as a rule, form a separate intonation-group. This is common for parenthetical clauses such as I suppose ..., I believe ..., I presume ..., I’m afraid ..., I think ... etc. They may be unstressed or partially stressed forming the prehead of the tune, or they may have a full stress on the important word which becomes part of the head:

I 'think that’s my ‘niece at the door. I 'hope ˙things will ˙soon im‘prove.

Short parentheses such as well, now, but, oh, surely, probably, certainly, of course frequently follow this pattern. They are unstressed or stressed according to the degree of importance attached to them:

Of 'course it’s a ‘splendid idea. Well, 'let’s ˙ask the ‘others.

FINAL PARENTHESES

Parentheses at the end of the utterance serve to summarize or add some details to the speaker's main remark. They do not, as a rule, form an intonation-group of their own and are pronounced as unstressed or partially stressed postnuclear syllables (tail).

I’m 'not ˙good at ‘languages, you know.

'Peter ‚knows him, of ˙course.

Additional prominence is achieved when parentheses in final position are said as part of the nucleus of a Falling-Rising tune (Divided):

You’ll 'finish the re'port to‘morrow, I ‚hope.

PARENTHESES IN THE MIDDLE OF AN UTTERANCE

Parentheses inserted into the middle of the principal remark usually convey a side-thought, which the speaker wishes to communicate at once without waiting until he has finished his utterance.

Parentheses are commonly inserted between two intonation-groups, in which case these intonation-groups remain unchanged while the parenthesis forms an intonation-group of its own and is pronounced on a lower pitch and at a quicker tempo than the main remark:

The 'climate in 'Great ‚Britain, | as far as I ‚know, | is 'very ‘changeable.

A parenthesis may join the first intonation-group as a tail or part of the Falling-Rising nucleus:

‘This ‚variant, at ˙least, | can be ac‘cepted.