8.5 The Rising-Falling Tone Pattern

The Rise-Fall can be combined with any common head, but more often it is used without a preceding head – either at the beginning of an intonation group, or after the prehead.

The meaning of the contour:

In statements: shows strong emotional involvement – the attitude might be delighted, challenging, hostile, ironical, or complacent.

E.g.: A: You won’t tell them, will you? – B: I shall have to tell him.

A: She’s got four cats. – B: Four!

In questions: challenging, quizzical, mocking. E.g.: How on ‘earth should I know! A: She says she can speak English. – B: Can she though!

In exclamations: impressed, sometimes with a note of accusation, impatience, antagonism, or irony. E.g.: Never! Wonderful!

Speech Exercises

Ex. 1 Read out the mini-dialogues conveying the suggested attitudes (use any kind of tones you learnt).

1 A: He’s the best student in the group. – Fancy! (impressed) 2 What shall we order for lunch? – B: I leave the choice to you, Alan. (calm, reserved) 3 He’s bought his third car. – Has he! (impressed) 4 What do you think of my roses? – B: They are delightful! (favourably impressed) 5 A: I’ll make it soon, I promise. – Yes, but how soon? (hostile) 6 A: I find the report encouraging. – B: Extremely encouraging. (impressed) 7 A: You promised it for Thursday. – B: Tuesday. (correction) 8 A: No sign of Joyce yet. - B: She always keeps us waiting. (reproachful, referring tone) 9 A: I should keep quiet about it. – B: Would you? (mocking) 10 A: I know it for a fact. – B: How do you know? (ironical) 11 A: It’s an inch too big. – B: What difference does it make? (disinterested, reserved) 12 A: She was treated by an osteopath. – B: By who did you say? (asking for repetition) 13 A: Was it a good show? – B: The best they’ve ever done! (strong, involved, lively) 14 A: Could I help? – B: You fight your own battles. (challenging, mocking) 15 A: So she didn’t know James? – B: She might have met him somewhere. (doubt, hesitation) 16 A: I’m thinking of having central heating. – B: It’s terribly expensive to install. (warning) 17 A: Can I have that jar? – B: What do you want it far? (serious) 18 A: Tom’s good at French. – B: He studies German as far as I know. (correction) 19 A: Are you sure you are right? – B: You’ll see that I am right. (complacent) 20 A: We’ve just arrived. – B: Did you have a good flight? (check that it is as is assumed)

Ex. 2 Practise reading the dialogue.

Mrs Newell has gone to see the doctor and is discussing her problem with him.

D: Where is the pain, Mrs Newell?

Mrs N: Here, Doctor, in my chest.

D: I see. Here?

Mrs N: Yes, Doctor.

D: Does it hurt when you cough?

MRs N: Yes, it does.

D: How long have you had it?

Mrs N: Six or seven weeks.

D: Six or seven weeks? As long as that?

Mrs N: I think so.

D: Have you tried taking anything - for the cough, I mean?

Mrs N: Well – the usual honey and hot lemon. And then I bought some cough syrup.

D: Did it help?

Mrs N: No, Doctor. That’s why I‘ve come to see you.

Unit 9 Expressive means of English intonation

Expressiveness of English speech is achieved through a wide use of:

1. emphatic variants of kinetic and static tones;

2. intonation patterns with an inherent emotional colouring, such as the ascending, scandent and sliding heads or the rising-falling tone;

3. irregular preheads;

4. stress reduction and nuclear tone-shift.