Intonation in commands

1. Low Fall tone in commands sounds very powerful, intense, serious and strong. The speaker takes it for granted that he will be obeyed, e.g.:

Try the other key.

Come and have dinner with Tom.

2. High Fall tone suggests a course of action; the speaker doesn't worry whether he will be obeyed or not, e.g.:

Put some more milk in it.

3. Short commands pronounced with the Low Fall sound unemotional, calm, controlled, often cold, e.g.:

Take it. Stop it.

Intonation in disjunctive questions (tags)

Disjunctive questions consist of 2 parts. The first one is a statement and is usually said with the Falling Tone. The second part can be of 2 types:

1. Falling Tone is used when the speaker expects agreement and doesn’t ask for confirmation, e.g.:

You know him, don’t you?

You weren’t there, were you?

Lovely weather today, isn’t it?

He’s a nice fellow, isn’t he?

(I think he’s a nice fellow.)

2. Rising Tone is used when the speaker is not sure if the information is correct and is asking the listener to check it, e.g.:

They weren’t speaking German, were they?

Before a tag, there’s usually a short pause.

Intonation in thanks, responses

In thank you and replies to thank you phrases the intonation goes down at the end as in most widely used statements, which express finality, completeness, and definiteness.

• Thank you.

• You are welcome.

• My pleasure.

Intonation in if-sentences

If-sentences, as well as all compound sentences, contain the principle clause and a subordinate one.

If the principle clause implies continuation, or each of the clauses is semantically independent they arrange separate intonation groups.

The principle clause may be pronounced with the falling, rising or even falling-rising intonation.

The subordinate clause usually implies non-finality and suggests not only continuation, but also sounds somewhat casual, e.g.:

If that’s how you want it, don’t ask me to help again.

If you ever need me, I’ll willingly help.

Intonation in Requests.

1. Low Rise tone preceded by the Falling Head is used in requests when the speaker wants to sound soothing, encouraging, calm, patronizing, e.g.:

Don't move.

Come and stay with us again soon.

2. High Fall tone is used in cases the speaker tend to sound polite, e.g.:

Please, sit on the sofa.

Please, fill in this form.

3. Fall-Rise tone sounds pleading, e.g.:

Try not to.

Don't forget to remind me.

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A Poem on English Pronunciation

Here is some pronunciation.

Ration never rhymes with nation,

Say prefer, but preferable,

Comfortable and vegetable.

B must not be heard in doubt,

Debt and dumb both leave it out.

In the words psychology,

Psychic, and psychiatry,

You must never sound the p.

Psychiatrist you call the man

Who cures the complex, if he can.

In architect, chi is k.

In arch it is the other way.

Please remember to say iron

So that it'll rhyme with lion.

Advertisers advertise,

Advertisements will put you wise.

Time when work is done is leisure,

Fill it up with useful pleasure.

Accidental, accident,

Sound the g in ignorant.

Relative, but relation,

Then say creature, but creation.

Say the a in gas quite short,

Bought remember rhymes with thwart,

Drought must always rhyme with bout,

In daughter leave the gh out.

Wear a boot upon your foot.

Root can never rhyme with soot.

In muscle, sc is s,

In muscular, it's sk, yes!

Choir must always rhyme with wire,

That again will rhyme with liar.

Then remember it's address.

With an accent like posses.

G in sign must silent be,

In signature, pronounce the g.

Please remember, say towards

Just as if it rhymed with boards.

Weight's like wait, but not like height.

Which should always rhyme with might.

Sew is just the same as so,

Tie a ribbon in a bow.

When You meet the queen you bow,

Which again must rhyme with how.

In perfect English make a start.

Learn this little rhyme by heart.