Pronunciation Lesson 6 Intonation.pptx.pdf

1. Pronunciation: Lesson 6
By @EasyEnglishwithJames

3. • Can the sound of a voice affect your emotions? Do you find that the
sound of language can make you feel happy or sad?
• Do certain languages sound more aggressive, calm, funny or joyful to
your ear?
• Have you ever tried to use the sound of music to change your
emotions? Can you imagine using languages in the same way?
• What sounds make you the happiest, the calmest or the most
anxious?
• Which language do you enjoy hearing the most?

4. Intonation
Intonation in English refers to the ‘tune’ or ‘melody’ of the English
language. Intonation is all about the tone and pitch of the voice
and its modulation throughout the sentence.
Intonation is the way we use the pitch of our voice to express
particular meanings and attitudes.

5. Intonation
Changes in intonation can convey subtle information about the
speaker’s attitude and emotions, in addition to indicating whether
or not a sentence is a statement or question.

6. Statements and
Questions
Perhaps one of the most common ways intonation is used in English is
to show the difference between a statement and a question. If the
sentence is a question requiring a ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response, the pitch would
steadily rise and remain highest on the last word.

7. Statements and
Questions
In contrast, a regular statement would naturally fall in pitch at the
end of the sentence. The stressed syllables and words in the
sentence would have a higher pitch.

8. 1. English Intonations: Falling intonation (for
statements)
The falling intonation is the most common intonation pattern in English. You’ll hear it in a
statement.
→ Statement = A simple sentence (affirmative or negative), not a question, not an exclamation.
For example:
•“I like cookies.”
•“We don’t have time.”
•“Sarah is here.”
•“I don’t like Bob”
•“I am going to the shop”
In a common statement, intonation falls slightly at the end. In other words, the last syllable of
the sentence is a bit lower (in pitch), and a bit quieter.

9. Intonation for
Questions
There are two types of questions: open questions and closed
questions. The type of intonation you use in your sentence
depends on the type of question you are asking.

10. Intonation for
Questions
Closed questions require a simple ‘yes’ or ‘no’ response, while
open questions ask for new information and often require a longer
response.

11. 2. English Intonations: Rising intonation (for Yes/No
questions)
“Yes / No” questions are questions that you can answer with “yes” or “no” (they often begin with a verb like
“do”, “be,” “have,” will,” “would”, “can”, or “could.”)
For example:
•“Will I be involved?”
•“Can they finish the project in time?”
•“Is English important or urgent?”
•“Is there a secret?”
•“Do you have an idea for a solution?”
•Would you ever change your name?
In these sentences, the intonation rises at the end of the sentence. In other words, the last syllable
sounds higher (in pitch), and a bit louder. It shows that you’re asking a question!
Use the examples in the video lesson to practice your intonation with Yes/No question, by repeating after me!
TOP TIP: in phonetics (and also in music) a sound that’s higher in pitch is also called sharper.

12. 3. English Intonations: Rising and falling (for Wh-questions)
“Wh-” questions are questions that start with an interrogative words (adverb or pronoun) such as :
What →“What do you want?” OR…
•When → “When is the deadline?”
•Where → “Where do you want to go?”
•Why → “Why do we need to focus on this?”
•How → “How can I connect with my audience?”
•Who → “Who do I want to be in the world?”
•Whose → “Whose goal do we need to fulfill?”
•Which → “Which color do you want for your website background?”
They all start with “Wh-”, except for “How” (sentences with “How” also follow the same intonation.)
Here the intonation rises on the most important word in the sentence, and then falls at the end of the
question.

13. Intonation and Lists
A distinctive intonation in English is used when reciting a list of items.
Each item has a rising pitch until the last item on the list which falls in
pitch. This fall in pitch gives a sense of completion and tells the listener
that you have finished your list.

14. Practice Sentences:
1. Do you like baseball, soccer, football, or tennis?
2. Should we invite Kim, Tom, or Ted?
3. I like to bring paper, pencils, pens, folders, and my
laptop.
4. He is driving through France, Spain, and Italy.
5. Do you want ice cream, soda, chips, or a pretzel?
List Intonation pitch rises on each item of the list
except for the last item, then it will fall.

15. Intonation and
Attitude
Intonation in English can be used to convey the nature and mood of
your sentence. Changes in intonation tell your listener if you have
finished speaking or if you are going to add something else to the
sentence.

16. Intonation and
Attitude
Intonation can also convey a friendly or unfriendly mood, sarcasm,
humour, sadness, reluctance, excitement, anger, disapproval and
many other attitudes and emotions.

17. Learning to use intonation to convey attitude and emotion is
one of the final steps in mastering English Pronunciation.
Bananas again.
Bored
Relieved
Surprised
Interested
(varied tone)
Uninterested (flat tone)
Excited/Thrilled
Tired
Unhappy

18. Once you are familiar with using content words to help with stress and intonation, it's time to take it to
the next level by choosing a focus word. The focus word (or words in some cases) is the most
important word in a sentence. For example:
• “Why didn't you call? I waited all day!”
In these two sentences, the word “call" is the central focus. It's the key to understanding both
sentences. Someone might answer this question by saying:
• “I didn’t call because I was so busy!”
In this case, "busy" would be the focus word as it provides the main explanation for someone being
late.
When saying the focus word, it's common to stress this word MORE than the other content words.
This may include raising the voice or speaking the word louder to add emphasis.
Step 1: Find the Focus Word

19. Focus words may change as you move through a conversation. It's common to choose focus words that
provide the next topic for discussion. Take a look at this short conversation, notice how the focus word
(marked in bold) changes to move the conversation forward.
•Bob: We're flying to Las Vegas next week.
•Alice: Why are you going there?
•Bob: I'm going to win a fortune!
•Alice: You need to get real. Nobody wins a fortune in Las Vegas.
•Bob: That's not true. Jack won a fortune there last year.
•Alice: No, Jack got married. He didn't win a fortune.
•Bob: That's what I call winning a fortune. I don't need to gamble to win a fortune.
•Alice: Looking for love in Las Vegas is definitely not the answer.
•Bob: OK. What is the answer in your opinion?
•Alice: I think you need to start dating girls from here.
•Bob: Don't get me started on girls from here. They're all out of my league!
•Alice: Come on Bob, you're a nice guy. You will find someone.
•Bob: I hope so...
Stressing these key words helps change the topic from a vacation in Las Vegas to finding someone to
marry to solving Bob's love life issues.
Step 2: Change Focus Words to Move the Conversation Along

20. Now it's up to you to choose the focus word. Choose the focus word for each sentence or group of short
sentences. Next, practice speaking these sentences while making sure to emphasize the stress word more.
1.What do you want to do this afternoon? I'm bored!
2.Why didn't you tell me she had a birthday?
3.I'm hungry. Let's get some lunch.
4.Nobody's here. Where has everyone gone?
5.I think Tom should buy lunch. I bought lunch last week.
6.Are you going to finish work or waste time?
7.You always complain about work. I think you need to stop.
8.Let's get Italian food. I'm tired of Chinese food.
9.The students are getting horrible grades. What's wrong?
10.Our class is going to have a test on Friday. Make sure you prepare.
The focus word for most of these should be clear.
However, remember that it's possible to change the
focus word in order to bring out different meanings.
Practice: Choose the Focus Word

21. Changing meaning
• “It’s raining. Isn’t it?”
• “It’s raining. Isn’t it?”
In this sentence, with falling intonation. You KNOW it is raining
and are TELLING that you know this.
In this sentence, with rising intonation. You DON’T KNOW it is
raining and are ASKING for confirmation that it is.

22. Bold and CAPITALIZED
One method we can use to practice intonation with focus words
is to write stressed words in bold and write FOCUS WORDS in
CAPITALIZED bold font.

23. Our school is the best in town. The teachers are friendly, and very
knowledgeable about English. I've studied at the school for two years
and my English is becoming very good. I hope you will visit our school
and try an English class. Maybe we can become friends, too!

24. Our school is the BEST in town. The teachers are friendly, and VERY
KNOWLEDGEABLE about English. I've studied at the school for two
years and my English is becoming VERY GOOD. I hope you
will visit our school and try an English class. MAYBE we can become
FRIENDS!

25. In this day and age, facts, statistics, and other numbers are used to prove everything.
Intuition, gut feelings and personal preferences are all out the door. Of course, there
are some who are trying to battle this trend. Recently, Malcolm Gladwell wrote
Blink, a best-seller which explores the usefulness of making split-second decisions
based on intuition rather than careful consideration of all the facts and figures.
In this book, Gladwell argues that initial impressions — or gut-feelings — are quite
rational. However, that this "split-second" thinking process moves faster than what
we usually associate with thinking. If you are one of these people — and there are
many of us — Blink provides "proof" that you're actually quite a rational human
being.

26. In this day and age, facts, statistics and other numbers are used
to prove EVERYTHING. Intuition, gut feelings and personal preferences are
all OUT THE DOOR. Of course, there ARE some who
are trying to battle this trend. Recently, Malcolm Gladwell wrote BLINK,
a best-seller which explores the USEFULNESS of making SPLIT-SECOND
DECISIONS based on INTUITION rather than careful consideration of all
the facts and figures.
In his book, Gladwell argues that INITIAL IMPRESSIONS —
or GUT-FEELINGS — are quite rational. However, that this "split-second"
thinking process moves FASTER than what we usually associate with thinking.
If YOU are one of these people — and there are MANY of us — Blink provides
"PROOF" that you're actually quite a RATIONAL HUMAN BEING.

27. Intonation and
Contrast
Intonation is also used to convey contrast, such as in this
sentence: ‘He might want to go dancing, but she absolutely hates
it!’ The bold words are the stressed words.
The intonation in this sentence would change to a very high pitch on
the word ‘hates’. This shows the strong contrast between what ‘he’ and
‘she’ want to do and the word ‘hates’ is stressed with strong intonation
to show to the importance and magnitude of the negative emotion.

28. • Meeting a friend for the first time in years
• A couple breaking up
• Arguing with a stranger
• A doctor and a very sick patient
Roleplay Practice

29. Intonation | Learning English | Cambridge English

30. There once was a ______ that put to sea
And the name of that ship was the Billy o' Tea
The ________ blew hard, her bow dipped down
Blow, me bully boys, blow (Huh!)
_______ may the Wellerman come
To bring us _______ and tea and ______
One day, when the tonguin' is done
We'll take our leave and go
She had not been two weeks from ________
When down on her a right whale bore
The ________ called all hands and swore
He'd take that whale in tow (Hah!)
Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
One day, when the tonguin' is done
We'll take our ________ and go
Before the boat had hit the ________
The whale's tail came up and caught her
All hands to the side, harpooned and ________ her
When she dived down _______ (Huh!)
Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
One day, when the tonguin' is done
We'll take our leave and go
No line was cut, no whale was ________
The Captain's mind was not on greed
But he ___________ to the whaleman's creed
She took that ship in tow (Huh!)
Soon may the Wellerman come
To bring us sugar and tea and rum
One day, when the tonguin' is done
We'll take our leave and _______
ship
winds
soon
sugar
rum
shore
Captain
leave
water
low
fought
belonged
go
freed
ship
winds
Soon
sugar rum
shore
Captain
leave
water
fought
low
freed
belonged
go

32. Are you Confident with Intonation in English?
• Can you tell when someone is being sarcastic in English?
• Do you use the correct intonation for tag questions?
• Do you think tag questions make you sound insecure?
• How do you use intonation to convey your emotions?