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Intonation in English
English intonation is a pretty complicated and varied phenomenon. There are dialectal and regional differences in intonation. For example, there is a noticeable difference between British and American intonation. Intonation may sound differently depending on whether the speakers have high or low voices, speak fast or slowly, loudly or quietly, energetically, emotionally, neutrally, or listlessly. Men and women may have their own differences and preferences in intonation. For the purpose of studying, this variety may be described in several intonation patterns characteristic of English speech.

Standard patterns
Falling intonation is the most common type of standard unemphatic intonation in English. It is used on the last stressed syllable of the sentence in statements (declarative sentences), special questions, commands (imperative sentences), exclamatory sentences, and in the last part of alternative questions (after "or"). Standard falling intonation in English falls stronger and deeper than standard falling intonation in Russian.

We live in \MOScow.
 * Statements

She is ten years \OLD.

He doesn't have a \CAR.

Where do you \LIVE?
 * Special questions

When did you \CALL him?

How much \IS it?

What are you \READing?

\STOP it! Sit \DOWN.
 * Commands

Close your books and \LISten.

Turn left at the \POST office.

How \NICE of you!
 * Exclamatory sentences

Hel\LO! Good \MORNing!

What a wonderful sur\PRISE!

Do you want /COFfee or \TEA?
 * Alternative questions

Did he visit /BELgium or \FRANCE last year?

Would you like to go for a /WALK or would you rather stay \HOME?

High fall
High fall is a variation of standard falling intonation. It is used for extra emphasis in informal situations to show lively interest and friendliness in statements, for example, in greetings and exclamatory sentences. High fall starts higher than standard falling intonation, the stress in it is stronger, and the stressed syllable is louder. Though this type of intonation is common in everyday speech, language learners should use it with caution and not too often because it is rather expressive and emphatic.

Oh \HI! I'm very glad to \SEE you!

Oh, come \ON! It's very \EASy!

He bought a /Ferrari? \WOW!

Change of standard patterns
Change of standard patterns of falling intonation also has meaning. It is very important to understand what this change might signal. A few examples are given below.

A statement with falling intonation gives information, while a statement with rising intonation becomes a surprised question or implies a request to repeat.

He bought a new \HOUSE. (Standard statement giving information)

He bought a new /HOUSE? (Surprised question)

A special question with falling intonation asks for information, while a special question with rising intonation signals more interest or surprise on the part of the speaker or implies a request to repeat.

What is your \NAME? (Standard intonation, asking for information.)

What is your /NAME? (More interested, surprised, or asking to repeat.)

A general question with rising intonation asks for information and expects "yes" or "no" for an answer, while a general question with falling intonation signals the speaker's confidence in getting an affirmative answer.

Do you have a /CAR? (Standard intonation, asking for information.)

Do you have a \CAR? (The answer "yes" is expected.)

A request in the form of a general question with rising intonation is normal and polite, while a request with falling intonation sounds like a command and may be impolite.

Could you give me a /PEN, please? (Polite request)

Could you give me a \PEN, please? (Sounds like a command, the answer "yes" is expected.)

Language learners should understand what the change of standard patterns may signal, but it is advisable to use standard patterns of falling intonation in your own speech.

Standard patterns
Rising intonation is used in general questions, in introductory phrases (at the beginning of the sentence), in the first part of alternative questions (before "or"), in direct address, and in enumerating items in a list.

Do you go there /OFten?
 * General questions

Was she glad to /SEE him?

Have you read this /BOOK?

Are you ready to /START?

Would you please pass the /PEPper?

If he /CALLS, ask him to \COME.
 * Introductory phrases

When I was walking in the /PARK, I saw a couple of interesting \BIRDS.

According to his /WORDS, he met that girl at the \TENnis club.

All of a /SUDden, the girl started to \CRY.

Would you like an /APple or a \PEAR?
 * Alternative questions

Does he speak /ENGlish or \GERman?

Did you go to the /CINema or to the \THEater yesterday?

/TOM, could you /HELP me, please?
 * Direct address

/SIR, you dropped your \NOTEbook.

Mr. /SMITH, your papers are \READy.

Note: If direct address is at the end of the sentence, it may be pronounced with a rise or just a stress on it: Good \MORNing, /JANE.

Good \MORNing, Jane.

Good-\BYE, Tom.

/One, /two, /three, /four, \five.
 * Enumerating

She bought /bread, /cheese, and to\MAtoes.

The choice of rising or falling intonation in the second part of tag questions depends on whether the speaker is sure of getting an affirmative answer.
 * Tag questions

It's a beautiful \TOWN, /ISN'T it? (The speaker thinks that the town is beautiful but asks for your opinion and confirmation.)

It's a beautiful \TOWN, \ISN'T it? (The speaker is sure that the town is beautiful and expects you to agree.)

You don't speak \FRENCH, /DO you? (The speaker thinks that you don't speak French but is not completely sure and asks for confirmation.)

You don't speak \FRENCH, \DO you? (The speaker is sure that you don't speak French and expects you to agree.)

Falling intonation is always used in the first part of tag questions (disjunctive questions). Despite the fact that tag questions are asked to get confirmation and agreement, the answer may be affirmative or negative.

High rise
High rise is a variation of standard rising intonation. It is used to express strong surprise or disbelief. High rise starts higher and ends higher than standard rising intonation. High rise is rather expressive and emphatic, and language learners should use it with caution and not too often.

I'm extremely sorry, but I probably lost the book you gave me.

/WHAT? You lost my /BOOK? (Meaning: I can't believe it.)

Where's my purse? You were here.

Ex/CUSE me? (Meaning: I can't believe you said it and ask you to repeat it.)

Fall-rise
Fall-rise is often used instead of standard rising intonation in unfinished parts of sentences, for example, in introductory phrases or subordinate clauses at the beginning of the sentence. Fall-rise signals non-finality and continuation of the utterance and emphasizes the word on which it is used. The voice first falls down and then goes up within one word.

If we don't act very \ /FAST, we may lose \EVErything.

The article said that Dr. Alan \ /SMITH was the only person who saw the \KILLer.

Change of standard patterns
Change of standard patterns of rising or falling intonation also has meaning. Falling intonation generally expresses completion, finality, and confidence, while rising intonation usually expresses non-finality, incompleteness, surprise, doubt, interest.

Rising intonation often implies a request to repeat or readiness to continue conversation. The examples below show how the meaning changes when the same sentence is said with a rising tone or a falling tone.

Melissa wants to quit her \JOB. (Giving information)

Melissa wants to quit her /JOB? (Surprised echo question)

Where are you \FROM? (Standard intonation, asking for information.)

Where are you /FROM? (More interested, surprised, or asking to repeat.)

Ex/CUSE me? (Asking to repeat)

Ex\CUSE me. (Apologizing or attracting attention)

Have you washed the /DISHes? (Standard intonation, asking for information.)

Have you washed the \DISHes? (The answer "yes" is expected.)

Sit \DOWN. (Command)

Sit \DOWN, /PLEASE. (Sounds more polite, like a request.)

Can I speak to the /MANager, please? (Standard request)

Can I speak to the \MANager, please? (Sounds like a command, the answer "yes" is expected.)

A statement with rising intonation in answering a question signals readiness to answer another question or to continue conversation.

Question: Excuse me, could you tell me where the university library is?

Answer: Across the /STREET. (Meaning: Do you see it? I'm ready to answer another question if necessary.)

Q: How long did you stay in San Francisco?

A: I stayed there about a /WEEK. (Meaning: I'm ready to answer questions and continue this conversation.)

Language learners should understand what the change of standard patterns may signal, but it is advisable to use standard patterns of rising intonation in your own speech.