Patterns of Intonation: The Fall-Rise Tune and the Rise-Fall Tune
The rising-falling tune:
This tune features in impatient commands, enumerations, double questions, and cordial greetings. The rising-falling tune is indicated by a curved line from the left, falling on the right.
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Impatient commands:
i) "Shut up!"
While the girls were singing, the boys were shouting.
Enumeration:
In counting out a series, the last item in the sequence takes a falling tune; all others are in the rising tune.
"The principal’s office has two chairs, a cupboard, and a standing fan."
Double Questions:
These are questions that present two alternatives. The first part has the rising tune, while the second carries the falling tune.
"Did she arrive yesterday?"
The rise-fall tune starts with a rise in pitch followed by a fall. This pattern is typically associated with strong statements, commands, or emotions, and it can convey confidence, finality, or emphasis.
Usage and Functions:
1. Certainty and Finality: The rise-fall tune often indicates certainty or finality in statements. For instance, "Yes, I will," with a rise-fall on "will," conveys a strong, definite commitment.
2. Commands and Instructions: When giving commands or instructions, this intonation pattern can underscore the seriousness or importance of the directive. For example, "Sit down now," with a rise-fall on "now," emphasizes the urgency or importance.
3. Emphasis and Enthusiasm: It can be used to emphasize a point or express enthusiasm. For example, "That was amazing!" with a rise-fall on "amazing" highlights the speaker's excitement.
4. Surprise or Disbelief: The rise-fall tune can also express surprise or disbelief. For example, "Really?" with a rise-fall can convey astoni
shment.
The Falling-Rising tune:
This is a combination of the rising and falling tunes, indicated by a symbol showing the gradual fall and rise in pitch.
The falling-rising tune is used to express requests, warnings, normal apologies, reservations, encouragement, and a few other specialized sentences.
Request: "Please let me have it."
Warning threats: "I’m warning you!"
Normal apologies: "I’m really sorry."
Tag-questions: "The students are happy, aren’t they?"
The fall-rise tune is characterized by a drop in pitch followed by a rise. This pattern often conveys uncertainty, politeness, or a sense of reservation. It can also indicate that the speaker has more to say or that they are hesitant.
Usage and Functions:
1. Uncertainty or Tentativeness: The fall-rise tune is commonly used to express doubt or uncertainty. For example, when answering a question with uncertainty, such as "I'm not sure if it's right," the fall-rise intonation on "right" indicates hesitancy.
2. Politeness and Softening: This intonation can soften statements or requests, making them sound less direct or more polite. For example, "Could you help me, please?" with a fall-rise on "please" sounds more courteous.
3. Contradiction or Correction: When gently correcting someone or offering an alternative view, the fall-rise tune can be employed. For instance, "I think it was Thursday, not Friday," with a fall-rise on "Thursday," suggests a gentle correction.
4. Incomplete Thoughts: It can signal that the speaker hasn't finished their thought, prompting the listener to expect additional information. For example, "I wanted to talk about the meeting, but…" with a fall-rise on "meeting" indicates there's more to come.
SELF-ASSESSMENT EXERCISE:
What intonation tune pattern would you use for the following sentences?
i. The trader sells cutlasses, hoes, catapults, and footballs.
ii. He dribbles Okaraji, Odegbami, and the goalkeeper.
CONCLUSION:
Our analysis of intonation patterns shows clearly that claiming Africans will find it difficult to understand and use English intonation due to tonal languages is erroneous. Intonation patterns, and their meanings being culture-bound, underscore why transferring one's native language's intonation to English is wrong.
SUMMARY:
As characteristic of the tone group, a unit of phonological analysis (intonation) applies to both individual items and longer stretches of language. The rising and falling pitch of a speaker’s voice in connected speech often provides the melody that gives the English language its aesthetic quality.
Now listen to the following sentences and write the intonation pattern used for each. The first one has been done for you. (See the answers on the next page).
Sentence | Intonation Pattern
1. When the bus arrived, no passenger was ready | Rise and fall
2. Since it is raining, we can’t play outside | Rise and Fall
3. Before you go, see the center manager | Rise and Fall
4. He said so, didn’t he? | Fall and Rise
5. She’s nice, isn’t she? | Fall and Rise
6. John comes to school early, doesn’t he? | Fall and Rise
7. Although she was never serious with her studies, she passed the semester examinations. | Rise and Fall
8. When the lecturer came in, the students stood. | Rise and Fall
9. The lecturer is always punctual, isn’t he? | Fall and Rise
10. When the Vice Chancellor arrived, the students were still in the lecture hall. | Rise and Fall
Answers to the drills:
2. Rise and Fall
5. Fall and Rise
8. Rise and Fall
3. Rise and Fall
6. Fall and Rise
9. Fall and Rise
4. Fall and Rise
7. Rise and Fall
10. Rise and Fall
REFERENCES/FURTHER READINGS
Bamgbose, A (1971). The English Language in Nigeria. In Spencer
(ed), The English Language in West Africa. London: Longman
Couper, K. (1986). An Introduction to English Prosody. London:
Edward Arnold.
Cruttenden, A. (1997). Intonation. 2nd ed. Cambridge: Cambridge
University Press.
Cruttenden, A. (2001) Gimson’s Pronunciation of English. 6th ed.
Revised and edited version of A. C. Gimson’s original book.
London: Edward Arnold.
Elugbe, B. (2000). Oral English for Schools and Colleges. Ibadan:
Heinemann Educational books.
http://www.english.unitecnology.ac.nz
http://www.ex.ac.uk/-bosthause/Lecture/hockett.htm
http://www.celt.stir.ac.uk/staff
Kachru (ed). The Other Tongue: English across Cultures. London:
Pergamon Press.
Kreidler, C. W. (1989). The Pronunciation of English. Oxford:
Blackwell
Ogbulogo, C (2002). Oral English Manual. Lagos: Sam Iroanusi
Publications.
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