FUNCTIONS OF INTONATION

INTONATION

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GPcBJfBTlNo

MAIN FUNCTIONS

Attitudinal function: It is related to the expression of emotions and attitudes as we speak and this adds a special kind of meaning to spoken language. Accentual Function: Helps to produce the effect of prominence on syllables that need to be perceived as stressed, and the placing of tonic stress on a particular syllable marks out the word which it belongs as the most important in the tone unit

Grammatical function: By using the information contained in the intonation, the listener is able to recognize such things as the placement of boundaries between phrases, clauses or sentences, the difference between questions and statements and the use of grammatical subordination may be indicated.
Discourse function: What is to be taken as new information and what is already given, can suggest when the speaker is indicating some sort of contrast or link with material in another tone unit and, in conversation, can convey to the listener what kind of response is expected.

WHAT ROLE DOES INTONATION PLAY WHEN CONVEYING FEELINGS AND EMOTIONS? Positive attitudes
*Enthusiasm *Lively *Excitement *Politeness *Certainty *Satisfaction *Enjoyment

Negative attitudes
*Surly *Lack of interest

*Rudeness
*Sadness *Boredom *Hesitation *annoyance

DO WE ALWAYS EXPRESS EMOTIONS VOLUNTARILY?

An emotion may be express involuntarily or voluntarily; if say something in a happy way, this may be because I feel happy, or because I want to convey to you the impression that I am happy. An attitude that is expressed could be an attitude:

*Towards the listener. *Towards what is being said. *Towards some external event or situation.
EXAMPLE: I HAVE TO GO TO LONDON THIS YEAR

SUPRASEGMENTAL VARIABLES

Sequential: This components of intonation are found as elements in sequences of other such elements ocurring one after another( never simultaneously). These are: i) Pre- heads, head, tonic syllables and tails. ii) Pauses iii) Tone unit boundaries Prosodic: This components are characteristics of speech which are constantly present and observable while speech is going on. The most important are: i) Width of speech range ii) Key iii) Loudness iv) Speed v) Voice quality

Paralinguistic: It is related to body language( facial expression, gestures and body movement) also certain vocal effects such as laughs and sobs. Within tone, for example, there are some basic meanings and these are: 1) Fall: Finality, definiteness That is the end of the news 2) Rise: Most of the functions attributed to rises are nearer to grammatical than attitudinal. General questions: Can you help me Listing: Red, brown, yellow or blue More to follow: You must write it again Encouraging: It won't hurt 3)Fall-rise: Uncertainty, doubt: You may be right Requesting: Can I buy it 4)Rise-fall: Surprise, being impressed: You were first

THE PARALINGUISTIC FUNCTION

WHY ARE THESE VARIABLES DIFFICULT TO TEACH OR LEARN?

What makes it difficult to teach or learn is the complexity of the total set of sequential and prosodic components of intonation and of paralinguistic features.
The attitudinal use of intonation is something that is best acquired through talking with and listening to English speakers

Exercise
1- It looks nice for a swim It's rather cold (Doubtful) 2- Why not get a car Because I can't a fford it (Impatient) 3- I've lost my ticket Youre silly then stating the obvious) 4-You can't have an ice-cream Oh please (pleading) 5-What times are the buses Seven o clock seven thirty and eight (listing) 6-She got fourAlevels Four (impressed) 7-How much work have you Ive got to do the shopping and more things) got to do 8-Will the children go Some of them might (uncertain)