1
English Pronunciation for Communication
Intonation in Communication
WANG GUIZHEN
English Faculty
Guangdong University of Foreign Studies
2
Intonation,Why?
A,It shows the relationship of words
within and between sentences;
B,It tells something about the feeling
of the speaker.
3
II,Structure of English Intonation
P = Pre-head
H = Head
N = Nucleus
T = Tail
4
? Elements in an intonation unit
? The nucleus,the stressed syllable of the last
调核 prominent word in a tone unit
? The tail,any syllable or syllables that may
调尾 follow the nucleus
? The head,the part of a tone unit that extends from
调头 the first stressed syllable up to the
nucleus
? The pre-head,any unstressed syllable or syllables that
调冠 may precede the head - or the nucleus,
if there is no head
5
? We are LEARNing a FOReign LANGuage.
? P H N T
? P = Pre-head
? H = Head
? N = Nucleus
? T = Tail
6
? Structures of an intonation unit
? PH NT,We are learning a foreign language.
? PHN,I am afraid we can't go.
? P NT,We hope so.
? P N,It was at night.
? H NT,When are they coming?
? H N,Peter has arrived.
? NT,Look at him.
? N,Help!
7
Mark out the elements in the following intonation units.
? P H N T, She'll be able to do it properly.
? P H N, It was a very dark night.
? P N T, He said so.
? P N, They'll be late.
? H N T, Isn't John going?
? H N, Go ahead.
? N T, Pardon?
? N, Thanks.
8
Mark out the elements in the following intonation units.
? P H N T, She'll be able to do it properly.
? P H N, It was a very dark night.
? P N T, He said so.
? P N, They'll be late.
? H N T, Isn't John going?
? H N, Go ahead.
? N T, Pardon?
? N, Thanks.
9
The Stress Rules
1,Stress tends to fall on content words within an
utterance.
2,Only a word’s stressed syllable carries the
sentence stress.
3,Within an intonation unit,there may be several
words receiving stress but only one has the nucleus.
4,New information tends to receive prominence and
generally occurs towards the end of an utterance.
10
Circle the prominent word in each thought group.
A,I’m starved,Let’s go and grab a bite to eat.
B,Good idea,Where do you want to go?
A,Well,there’s a nice Italian restaurant about a
block from here.
B,Do you have your heart set on Italian? What
about a Chinese place?
A,Oh,do you know one?
B,I sure do,The food is delicious and it’s right
around the corner.
A,Great! Let’s go.
11
Circle the prominent word in each thought group.
A,I’m starved,Let’s go and grab a bite to eat.
B,Good idea,Where do you want to go?
A,Well,there’s a nice Italian restaurant about a
block from here.
B,Do you have your heart set on Italian? What
about a Chinese place?
A,Oh,do you know one?
B,I sure do,The food is delicious and it’s right
around the corner.
A,Great! Let’s go.
12
13
14
Circle the prominent word in each thought group.
A,I have a picture of a lady sitting in a park.
B,I have a lady in a park too,She’s reading a book.
A,Oh,my lady is reading a newspaper.
B,Next to the lady there’s a big tree.
A,There’s a big tree in my picture too.
B,My picture has a dog.
A,My picture has two dogs.
15
III,The Use of English Intonation
The falling tone
-- indicating `definiteness' and `completeness',
Types of sentences:
Ordinary statements
WH questions
Imperative sentences (strong commands)
Exclamatory sentences
16
The rising tone
- indicating `uncertainty',
`incompleteness' or `politeness'.
Types of sentences:
Yes-no questions
Statements intended as questions
Statements intended to be soothing or
encouraging
Repetition questions
17
The falling-rising tone
- showing contrast,implication,disagree-
ment,contradiction,or warning,etc,
Types of sentences:
Statements where contrast is implied
Statements which imply reservation
Statements which show disagreement or
contradiction
Warnings
18
Utterances Question ? Statement ?
1,He left already.
2,Sally’s moving.
3,John missed his flight.
4,It’s snowing in New York.
19
Utterances Sure ? Unsure ?
1,Your name’s George,isn’t it?
2,It’s going to rain tomorrow,isn’t it?
3,You wanted to go,didn’t you?
4,We should offer to help,shouldn’t we?
20
Utterances Yes-no ? Choice ??
1,Are you coming Friday or Saturday?
2,Can you meet us at eight or nine?
3,Would you like beer or wine?
4,Are you going to Spain or Portugal?
21
English Pronunciation for Communication
Intonation in Communication
WANG GUIZHEN
English Faculty
Guangdong University of Foreign Studies
2
Intonation,Why?
A,It shows the relationship of words
within and between sentences;
B,It tells something about the feeling
of the speaker.
3
II,Structure of English Intonation
P = Pre-head
H = Head
N = Nucleus
T = Tail
4
? Elements in an intonation unit
? The nucleus,the stressed syllable of the last
调核 prominent word in a tone unit
? The tail,any syllable or syllables that may
调尾 follow the nucleus
? The head,the part of a tone unit that extends from
调头 the first stressed syllable up to the
nucleus
? The pre-head,any unstressed syllable or syllables that
调冠 may precede the head - or the nucleus,
if there is no head
5
? We are LEARNing a FOReign LANGuage.
? P H N T
? P = Pre-head
? H = Head
? N = Nucleus
? T = Tail
6
? Structures of an intonation unit
? PH NT,We are learning a foreign language.
? PHN,I am afraid we can't go.
? P NT,We hope so.
? P N,It was at night.
? H NT,When are they coming?
? H N,Peter has arrived.
? NT,Look at him.
? N,Help!
7
Mark out the elements in the following intonation units.
? P H N T, She'll be able to do it properly.
? P H N, It was a very dark night.
? P N T, He said so.
? P N, They'll be late.
? H N T, Isn't John going?
? H N, Go ahead.
? N T, Pardon?
? N, Thanks.
8
Mark out the elements in the following intonation units.
? P H N T, She'll be able to do it properly.
? P H N, It was a very dark night.
? P N T, He said so.
? P N, They'll be late.
? H N T, Isn't John going?
? H N, Go ahead.
? N T, Pardon?
? N, Thanks.
9
The Stress Rules
1,Stress tends to fall on content words within an
utterance.
2,Only a word’s stressed syllable carries the
sentence stress.
3,Within an intonation unit,there may be several
words receiving stress but only one has the nucleus.
4,New information tends to receive prominence and
generally occurs towards the end of an utterance.
10
Circle the prominent word in each thought group.
A,I’m starved,Let’s go and grab a bite to eat.
B,Good idea,Where do you want to go?
A,Well,there’s a nice Italian restaurant about a
block from here.
B,Do you have your heart set on Italian? What
about a Chinese place?
A,Oh,do you know one?
B,I sure do,The food is delicious and it’s right
around the corner.
A,Great! Let’s go.
11
Circle the prominent word in each thought group.
A,I’m starved,Let’s go and grab a bite to eat.
B,Good idea,Where do you want to go?
A,Well,there’s a nice Italian restaurant about a
block from here.
B,Do you have your heart set on Italian? What
about a Chinese place?
A,Oh,do you know one?
B,I sure do,The food is delicious and it’s right
around the corner.
A,Great! Let’s go.
12
13
14
Circle the prominent word in each thought group.
A,I have a picture of a lady sitting in a park.
B,I have a lady in a park too,She’s reading a book.
A,Oh,my lady is reading a newspaper.
B,Next to the lady there’s a big tree.
A,There’s a big tree in my picture too.
B,My picture has a dog.
A,My picture has two dogs.
15
III,The Use of English Intonation
The falling tone
-- indicating `definiteness' and `completeness',
Types of sentences:
Ordinary statements
WH questions
Imperative sentences (strong commands)
Exclamatory sentences
16
The rising tone
- indicating `uncertainty',
`incompleteness' or `politeness'.
Types of sentences:
Yes-no questions
Statements intended as questions
Statements intended to be soothing or
encouraging
Repetition questions
17
The falling-rising tone
- showing contrast,implication,disagree-
ment,contradiction,or warning,etc,
Types of sentences:
Statements where contrast is implied
Statements which imply reservation
Statements which show disagreement or
contradiction
Warnings
18
Utterances Question ? Statement ?
1,He left already.
2,Sally’s moving.
3,John missed his flight.
4,It’s snowing in New York.
19
Utterances Sure ? Unsure ?
1,Your name’s George,isn’t it?
2,It’s going to rain tomorrow,isn’t it?
3,You wanted to go,didn’t you?
4,We should offer to help,shouldn’t we?
20
Utterances Yes-no ? Choice ??
1,Are you coming Friday or Saturday?
2,Can you meet us at eight or nine?
3,Would you like beer or wine?
4,Are you going to Spain or Portugal?
21
