LESSON 8 - Intonation Awareness & Intonation Drills

          

        High on the hill with a lonely goat herd Le hi ho di le hi ho di le hi hi Sweet little lamb with a lonely sheep herd Le hi ho di le hi ho di lei Ha ha le hi ho di le hi Hei hei le hi ho di lei Ho ho le hi ho di le hi Le hi ho di lei ho lei Lonely Goatherd Why do we need to sing? Because speaking is like singing… In singing, we follow a tone… It is the same in speaking… The tone we follow is called intonation.

        Intonation is the rising and falling or the variation of the tone of voice when we speak.

Intonation

     > Lowest tone

     > Middle tone

     > Highest tone

In intonation, we have three pitch levels

PITCH OR TONE LEVELS 1 – lowest tone 2 – middle tone 3 – highest tone

FINAL INTONATION PATTERNS

1 – lowest tone 2 – middle tone 3 – highest tone THE 2-3-1 PATTERN OR THE RISING-FALLING INTONATION PATTERN

2 – middle tone 3 – highest tone THE 2-3 PATTERN OR THE RISING INTONATION PATTERN

A fourth pitch level is also used depending on the emotion expressed in a sentence.

Rules of final intonation patterns

First rule

Declarative sentences or factual sentences follow the 2-3-1 pattern.

    EXAMPLE: The cookie was stolen.
    EXAMPLE: The book is on the table.
   
Second rule

Imperative sentences follow the 2-3-1 pattern.

    EXAMPLE: Please hand me the book.
    EXAMPLE: Pick a better choice.
   
Third rule
   
Information questions follow the 2-3-1 pattern.
   
    EXAMPLE: Where is the cookie?
    EXAMPLE: Who took the cookie?
   
Fourth rule

Yes-no questions follow the 2-3 pattern.

    EXAMPLE: Did she take the cookie?
    EXAMPLE: Do you like cookies?
    

Read the following:

1. I didn't say we should kill him.  = Someone else said we should kill him.
2. I didn’t say we should kill him. = I am denying saying it.
3. I didn’t say we should kill him. = I implied it / whispered it / wrote it down.
4. I didn’t say we should kill him. = I said someone else should kill him /you should kill him, etc.
5. I didn’t say we should kill him. = I said we shouldn’t kill him / we must kill him, etc.
6. I didn’t say we should kill him. = I said we should take him to dinner /take care of him / send him on a diving holiday.
7. I didn’t say we should kill him. = We should kill someone else.

Exercise 1

Directions: Draw the final intonation patterns for the following sentences.
      

1. He studies literature.
       
2. Bring me the papers.
       
3. Why is she absent?
       
4. Did you see him?
       
5. Is she intelligent?





     
Exercise 2

Directions: Read the following sentences using the correct final intonation patterns.
       

1. Are you going to school today?
       
2. The booth is already closed.
       
3. Where are your brothers?
       
4. Aren't you coming with us?
       
5. Tomorrow is another day.
       




Exercise 3

Directions: Draw the correct final intonation pattern for the following sentences.
                   

1. She is perfect.
                   
2. Who is your rival for the first spot?
                   
3. Wouldn't it be nice if we go out?
                   
4. Did you know that she isn't coming?
                   
5. Honesty is the best policy.
                   
6. Hope springs eternal.
                   
7. I’d like to come over to talk about some matters.
                   
8. Bring me the book.
                   
9. Please carry the bag for me.
                   
10. Every dog has a collar.

Reference

English, Communication Arts I (Conversational Approach) pp. 95-100

http://designerlessons.org/2011/12/10/intonation-sentence-stress-esl/

http://www.slideshare.net/vanessaadriano/vanessa-intonation-for-demo