The falling tones (low, high), their usage and modal meaning

The falling contours all sound definite and complete, yet each of them has a clearly distinct range of meanings as far as the speaker’s attitude to the situation and to the listener is concerned.

THE LOW FALL

Description: the voice falls during the stressed syllable from a medium to a very low pitch.

e.g. Right. Certainly.

Use:

The Low Fall gives a feeling of finality and definiteness to the utterance in which it is used as a nuclear tone. When used in a sentence with one prominent word it conveys a cool, phlegmatic, reserved, calm, possibly grim, unsympathetic, and even hostile attitude.

e.g.: The supper’s not ready. – Why?

The Low Fall may be preceded by:

– The Low Level Head – expressing seriousness combined with placidity, sadness, etc.

e.g.: I don’t like football.

– The Ascending Head – expressing excitement, or impatience and irritation.

e.g.: What are you 'going to do then?

– The Low Scandent Head – expressing indignation, resentment, exasperation.

e.g.: What a mean thing to say!

– The Gradually Descending Stepping Head – expressing a weighty, firm, categoric character to an utterance (the falling tone here can start higher than the middle of the voice range and is often called the Mid Fall).

e.g.: The 'colour 'doesn’t matter, darling.

THE HIGH FALL

Description: the voice falls during the stressed syllable from a high to a very low pitch,

e.g. ‘Right ‘Wonderful!

Use: Sentences pronounced with High Fall are just as definite and complete as those with Low Fall, but they sound more lively and interest, always more airy and lighter in mood, than those with Low Fall.

The High Fall preceded by a High Pre-Head or a Gradually Descending Stepping Head and sounds weighty, lively, interested, enthusiastic, assertive, expressive, considerate, concerned, insistent, urgent.

e.g. ¯That’s ‘fine

e.g. 'Where did you 'go for your ‘holiday?

The High Fall preceded by the Ascending Head is used to imply that the speaker is rather surprised by what the order person has just said. It may sound protesting too. e.g. What are you 'doing ‘here?

When used with a Low Pre-Head or a Low Level Head this tone is strongly contrasting or contradictory; often showing indignation and excitement. It is common in colloquial speech.

e.g. I wish I could do it my‘self. – I want your ‘brother to do this.

The High Fall combined with a Scandent Head may express pleasant surprise, animation, impatience, insistence or indignation,

What are you going to ‘do?

The rising tones (high, low), their usage and modal meaning

THE LOW RISE

Description: The voice rises during the stressed syllable from a low to a medium pitch or a little above.

e.g. ‚Right. ‚Wonderful.

Use:

The Low Rise gives a feeling of non-finality, incompleteness to utterances in which it is used as nuclear tone, often indicating the speaker's casual attitude towards, lack of interest in, or detachment from the subject-matter. This tone is often preceded by a Low Level Head which practically does not change the meaning conveyed by this tone. A Low Rise preceded by a High Pre-Head or a High Level Head expresses consideration for the listener. It introduces a friendly atmosphere.

e.g. ¯Very ‚good, ˙sir. I 'wish you ˙good ‚luck.

A Low Rise may indicate incompleteness. In this case the tone is often preceded by a Gradually Descending Stepping Head.

e.g. If you 'want to 'leave the ‚room, | you have to' ask for per‘mission.

When preceded by an Ascending Stepping Head this tone may express amiability, superiority and self assurance

e.g. Just 'do as you’re ‚told.

THE HIGH RISE

Description: the voice rises during the stressed syllable from a low or medium to a high pitch.

‛Fine? ‛Wonderful?

Use: this tone gives the feeling of non-finality, questioning, expressing interest, surprise, asking for repetition. This tone has a strong interrogative force – it transforms any sentence-type into a question:

– 'Let’s meet at ‘ten. – At ‛ten?

The basic meaning of the tone does not depend on the head preceding it.