FUNCTIONS OF FUNCTIONS OF INTONATIONINTONATION

(Chapters 18 & 19) (Chapters 18 & 19)

What would an utterance lose if What would an utterance lose if intonation were omitted?intonation were omitted?

Every syllable said on the same level pitchEvery syllable said on the same level pitchNo pausesNo pausesNo changes in speed and loudnessNo changes in speed and loudness

Such would be speech produced by the Such would be speech produced by the “mechanical speech device”“mechanical speech device”Therefore, intonation makes it easier for Therefore, intonation makes it easier for the listener to understand the meaning a the listener to understand the meaning a speaker is trying to conveyspeaker is trying to convey

4 main functions of intonation:4 main functions of intonation:

Attitudinal functionAttitudinal function

Accentual functionAccentual function

Grammatical functionGrammatical function

Discourse functionDiscourse function

Attitudinal functionAttitudinal function

Intonation enables the speaker to express Intonation enables the speaker to express emotions and attitudes which adds a emotions and attitudes which adds a special meaning to spoken language as a special meaning to spoken language as a difference from its written counterpartdifference from its written counterpart

Accentual functionAccentual function

Intonation helps to produce the effect of Intonation helps to produce the effect of prominence on syllables that should be prominence on syllables that should be perceived as stressed while tonic stress perceived as stressed while tonic stress on a particular syllable marks the word as on a particular syllable marks the word as the most important in the tone-unit.the most important in the tone-unit.

Grammatical functionGrammatical function

The listener better recognizes grammar The listener better recognizes grammar and what is being said by using the and what is being said by using the information contained in intonation: e.g. information contained in intonation: e.g. placement of boundaries between placement of boundaries between phrases, clauses and sentences, phrases, clauses and sentences, difference between questions and difference between questions and statements, use of grammatical statements, use of grammatical subordination, etc.subordination, etc.

Discourse functionDiscourse function

Intonation can signal to the listener what is Intonation can signal to the listener what is to be taken as “new information” within the to be taken as “new information” within the act of speaking, when the speaker is act of speaking, when the speaker is indicating a contrast or link with the indicating a contrast or link with the material from previous tone-units and it material from previous tone-units and it can also make the listener feel what kind can also make the listener feel what kind of response is expectedof response is expected

Attitudinal and discourse functionsAttitudinal and discourse functions

Overlap in certain waysOverlap in certain ways

The other 3 functions can hardly be The other 3 functions can hardly be disentangled as:disentangled as:E.g. placement of tonic stress is closely E.g. placement of tonic stress is closely linked to the presentation of “new” linked to the presentation of “new” information;information;Question/statement distinction is equally Question/statement distinction is equally important in grammar and discourseimportant in grammar and discourse

Common to Common to accentual, grammatical accentual, grammatical and discourse functionsand discourse functions::

is indication by means of intonation of the is indication by means of intonation of the relationship between a linguistic element relationship between a linguistic element and the context in which it occursand the context in which it occurs

Attitudinal functionAttitudinal function

The same sentence can be said in The same sentence can be said in different ways labelled as “happy”, “angry”, different ways labelled as “happy”, “angry”, “grateful”, etc.“grateful”, etc.

Intonation differs from language to Intonation differs from language to languagelanguage

Often pointed out that if a foreign learner Often pointed out that if a foreign learner does not learn proper intonation he/she does not learn proper intonation he/she may unintentionally give offencemay unintentionally give offence

How to analyse the attitudinal How to analyse the attitudinal function?function?

Try saying one sentence with different Try saying one sentence with different intonation patternsintonation patternsAsk a group of listeners what attitudes Ask a group of listeners what attitudes they think have been expressed they think have been expressed Ask them to choose among a small Ask them to choose among a small number of adjectives or labelsnumber of adjectives or labelsAsk a lot of speakers to say a list of Ask a lot of speakers to say a list of sentences in different ways according to sentences in different ways according to labels provided by the analystlabels provided by the analyst

A more useful and realistic A more useful and realistic approach:approach:

To study recordings of different speakers´ To study recordings of different speakers´ natural, spontaneous speech and on this natural, spontaneous speech and on this basis make generalisations about attitudes basis make generalisations about attitudes and intonationand intonationMaterial chosen should be neutral from the Material chosen should be neutral from the emotional point of view, i.e. pure questions emotional point of view, i.e. pure questions or utterances qualified by the use of specific or utterances qualified by the use of specific vocabulary indicating their purpose should vocabulary indicating their purpose should not be considerednot be considered

Components of intonationComponents of intonation::

SequentialSequential

ProsodicProsodic

paralinguisticparalinguistic

Sequential componentSequential component

Components never occur simultaneouslyComponents never occur simultaneously

They are: pre-head, head, tonic syllable, They are: pre-head, head, tonic syllable, tailtail

PausesPauses

Tone-unit boundariesTone-unit boundaries

Prosodic componentProsodic component

Characteristics of speech that are constantly Characteristics of speech that are constantly present while the speech is going on:present while the speech is going on:

- Width of pitch rangeWidth of pitch range- KeyKey- LoudnessLoudness- SpeedSpeed- Voice qualityVoice quality- (rhythmicality)(rhythmicality)

Paralinguistic componentParalinguistic component

Facial expressions, gestures, body Facial expressions, gestures, body languagelanguage

Vocal effects: laughs, sobs, ...Vocal effects: laughs, sobs, ...

Effects relevant to the act of speaking but Effects relevant to the act of speaking but not proper components of speech not proper components of speech

Tones conveying meanings:Tones conveying meanings:

FallFall: : finality, definitenessfinality, definiteness- Stop talking! I´m absolutely certain! That is Stop talking! I´m absolutely certain! That is

the end of news!the end of news!RiseRise::- Functions nearer to grammatical than to Functions nearer to grammatical than to

attitudinalattitudinal: e.g. : e.g. general questionsgeneral questions: Can you : Can you help me?; help me?; listinglisting: red, brown and black;: red, brown and black;““more to follow ...”: I phoned them right a way;more to follow ...”: I phoned them right a way;encouragingencouraging: It won´t hurt.: It won´t hurt.

Fall-riseFall-rise::- uncertainty, doubtuncertainty, doubt: You may be right.: You may be right.- RequestingRequesting: Can I : Can I buybuy it? it?

Rise-fallRise-fall::- surprise, being impressedsurprise, being impressed::

You were You were firstfirst..

Generalisations of the kind are:Generalisations of the kind are:

Very broadVery broadForeign learners do not easily acquire intonation Foreign learners do not easily acquire intonation only through studying patternsonly through studying patternsStill, wider pitch range = excited or enthusiastic Still, wider pitch range = excited or enthusiastic speaking; slower speed = typical of the speech of speaking; slower speed = typical of the speech of tired or bored persontired or bored personUseful but difficult to teach or learn if not speaking Useful but difficult to teach or learn if not speaking or listening to native speakers; still, building up or listening to native speakers; still, building up awareness and sensitivity for ways native awareness and sensitivity for ways native speakers use intonation has been our aimspeakers use intonation has been our aim

Accentual functionAccentual function

Derived from the word “accent” = stressDerived from the word “accent” = stress

Placement of stress is determined by Placement of stress is determined by intonationintonation

Although stress has been presented as Although stress has been presented as independent of and placing of stress prior independent of and placing of stress prior to the choice of intonation, placement of to the choice of intonation, placement of the tonic stress within the tone-unit can be the tonic stress within the tone-unit can be regarded as part of intonation. regarded as part of intonation.

Location of the tonic syllableLocation of the tonic syllable

Of great linguistic importanceOf great linguistic importance

The most common position – on the last The most common position – on the last lexical word of the tone-unitlexical word of the tone-unit

But, for contrastive purposes any word can But, for contrastive purposes any word can become the bearer of the tonic syllablebecome the bearer of the tonic syllable

Thus, the placement of the tonic syllable Thus, the placement of the tonic syllable represents the represents the focusfocus of the information of the information

Examples of contrast / emphasisExamples of contrast / emphasisI want to I want to knowknow wherewhere he´s he´s travellingtravelling to toI want to know where he´s travelling I want to know where he´s travelling fromfromShe was wearing a ´red dressShe was wearing a ´red dress

It was ´very It was ´very boringboringIt was It was veryvery boring boring

You ´mustn´t ´talk so You ´mustn´t ´talk so loudlyloudlyYou You mustn´tmustn´t talk so loudly talk so loudly

Tonic syllable earlier in the tone-Tonic syllable earlier in the tone-unit, not for reasons of empasisunit, not for reasons of empasis

I have plans to I have plans to leaveleave

I have I have plansplans to leave to leave The rule??The rule??

Here´s that book you asked me to bringHere´s that book you asked me to bring

I´ve got to take the I´ve got to take the dogdog for a walk for a walk

I´ve got to take the dog to the I´ve got to take the dog to the vetvet

Grammatical functionGrammatical function

Sentences which when written are ambiguous, Sentences which when written are ambiguous, and ambiguity can only be removed by and ambiguity can only be removed by different intonation: e.g.different intonation: e.g.

Those who sold quickly made a profitThose who sold quickly made a profit

(A profit was made by those who sold quickly)(A profit was made by those who sold quickly)

Those who sold quickly made a profitThose who sold quickly made a profit

(A profit was quickly made by those who sold)(A profit was quickly made by those who sold)

Link between Link between tone-unit and units of grammartone-unit and units of grammar

Tone-unit boundaries usually occur at Tone-unit boundaries usually occur at boundaries between grammatical units of boundaries between grammatical units of higher order than words (at sentence higher order than words (at sentence boundary: e.g. I won´t have any tea I donboundary: e.g. I won´t have any tea I don´t like it)´t like it)

At phrase and clause boundaries: e.g.At phrase and clause boundaries: e.g.

In France where farms tend to be smaller In France where farms tend to be smaller the subsidies are more im portantthe subsidies are more im portant

Restrictive vs. non-restrictive Restrictive vs. non-restrictive relative clauserelative clause

The Conservatives who like the proposal The Conservatives who like the proposal are pleased (only some of them)are pleased (only some of them)The Conservatives, who like the proposal, The Conservatives, who like the proposal, are pleased (all of them)are pleased (all of them)

GrammaticalGrammatical significance of significance of tonetone on the on the tonic syllable : rise with questions, choice tonic syllable : rise with questions, choice between falling/rising tone can differentiate between falling/rising tone can differentiate statement and question of the same for statement and question of the same for (e.g. Why do you want to buy it? The price (e.g. Why do you want to buy it? The price is going up)is going up)

Falling tone with questionsFalling tone with questions

Wh-questions: where did you park the carWh-questions: where did you park the car

Question tags: They are coming on Question tags: They are coming on Tuesday aren´t they (the example shows Tuesday aren´t they (the example shows overlapping between attitudinal and overlapping between attitudinal and grammatical function) grammatical function)

Discourse functionDiscourse function

An attempt to look at larger contexts in An attempt to look at larger contexts in which sentences occur (R., p.198); which sentences occur (R., p.198); sentences form part of a larger act of sentences form part of a larger act of conversational interaction between conversational interaction between speakersspeakers

They make references to the shared They make references to the shared knowledgeknowledge

Intonation and discourseIntonation and discourse

Intonation focuses the listener´s attention Intonation focuses the listener´s attention (by placing tonic stress on the appropriate (by placing tonic stress on the appropriate syllable) on important aspects of the syllable) on important aspects of the messagemessage

Intonation regulates conversational Intonation regulates conversational behaviourbehaviour

Falling tone is used to indicate new Falling tone is used to indicate new informationinformation

Rising toneindicates “shared” or “given” Rising toneindicates “shared” or “given” informationinformation

(R., p.199)(R., p.199)

Intonational subordinationIntonational subordination

A case when we signal that a particular A case when we signal that a particular tone-unit is of comparatively low tone-unit is of comparatively low importance and give greater importance to importance and give greater importance to adjacent tone-units. (R., p.200)adjacent tone-units. (R., p.200)

Regulation of conversational Regulation of conversational behaviourbehaviour

It refers to what the speaker is doing in It refers to what the speaker is doing in speaking: questioning, challenging, speaking: questioning, challenging, advising, encouraging, disapproving, etc.advising, encouraging, disapproving, etc.

It signals when one has finished speaking It signals when one has finished speaking and whether another person is expected to and whether another person is expected to speak (regulates turn-taking), a particular speak (regulates turn-taking), a particular type of response, etc.type of response, etc.