Exploring Language-How intonation works

These nuances can be tested by asking someone to express different attitudes or emotions using only "mmmmm". enthusiasm? boredom? uncertainty? anger?

The variations in pitch can be quite difficult to analyse objectively. Just as we can distinguish very fine differences in taste that are difficult to analyse scientifically, so it is often very difficult to determine and describe the exact changes in pitch that produce these different responses.

Some listeners find it easy to discern whether the pitch movement on a nuclear syllable is rising or falling, but others find the distinctions almost impossible to hear. It is fruitless - and distressing - to ask such people to try to say something with a predetermined rise or fall. It is better to ask them to say something to express a certain attitude. If they are asked to express finality or certainty, the result is most likely to be a fall. If they are asked to say something in a questioning way, it is most likely to be a rise. If they are asked to express uncertainty, it will probably be a fall-rise. Fortunately, the ability to hear and interpret intonation in everyday speech does not depend on the ability to analyse it or replicate it in class.

Although intonation is an important feature of spoken English, it is represented in written English only rather crudely by the use of such punctuation devices as full stops, commas, question marks, and exclamation marks. Skilful writers can convey shades of meaning in various ways. Some resort to a simple method of adverbials.

Exploring Language is reproduced by permission of the publishers Learning Media Limited on behalf of Ministry of Education, P O Box 3293, Wellington, New Zealand, © Crown, 1996.

Source: http://english.unitecnology.ac.nz/resources/resources/exp_lang/how.html (adapted slightly).