Prosodic features are the sound qualities of a voice. Aside from intonation, other prosodic features include volume (loudness), tempo (speed), pitch (frequency), rhythm (sound pattern), and stress (emphasis).
It is quite likely that you will come across these terms during your studies, so it's worth making a note of them!
Intonation Types
Every language has its own intonation patterns, but since we're concerned with the English language, we'll focus on the intonation types belonging to English. There are three main intonation types to be aware of: falling intonation, rising intonation, and non-final intonation.
Falling intonation is when the voice falls or lowers in pitch (gets deeper) towards the end of a sentence. This type of intonation is one of the most common and usually happens at the end of statements. Falling intonation can also occur at the end of some kinds of questions, such as those beginning with "who", "what", "where", "why", and "when."
Example: Statement: "I'm going shopping." Question: "What did you think of the presentation?" Both of these utterances feature a falling intonation when spoken aloud.
Rising Intonation
Rising intonation is essentially the opposite of falling intonation (in case that was unclear!) and is when the voice rises or gets higher in pitch towards the end of a sentence. Rising intonation is most common in questions that can be answered with a "yes" or "no."
Example: "Did you enjoy the presentation?" In this question, there would be a rise in pitch (your voice would get slightly higher) at the end of the question. This is different from the "what" question example in the falling intonation section. If you try saying both questions one after the other, you can see more clearly how the intonation changes at the end of each question.
Non-final Intonation
In non-final intonation, there is a rise in pitch and a fall in pitch in the same sentence. Non-final intonation is used in several different circumstances, including introductory phrases and unfinished thoughts, as well as when listing several items or giving multiple choices.
Example: In each of these utterances, there is an intonation spike (where the voice gets higher) followed by an intonation dip (where the voice gets lower). Introductory phrase: "In fact, I know the area quite well." Unfinished thought: "I have always wanted a dog, but..." List of items: "My favorite subjects are English Language, Psychology, Biology, and Drama." Offering choices: "Would you prefer Italian or Chinese for dinner tonight?"
