Learning Objectives
Identify intonation in order to improve pronunciation
Intonation– the rise and fall pattern of the voice when speaking; sentences have regular patterns of intonation
Falling intonation ↓ |
Rising intonation ↑ |
Statements
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Yes/no Questions
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Commands
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Wh- questions (requesting information)
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Both Falling ↓ and Rising ↑ Intonation |
Choices
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Hesitation/reluctance
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Lists (rising, rising, rising, falling)
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Politeness-Doubt-Uncertainty
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Conditional sentences
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tips for teaching
Falling intonation is the most common intonation pattern in English.
Rising intonation invites the speaker to continue talking.
Use rise-fall intonation for choices, lists, unfinished thoughts and conditional sentences.
Fall-rise intonation shows the speaker is not certain of the response to a question.