The organs of speech

3. The imperative sentence expresses a command, a request, an invitation, etc.

Commands are pronounced with the falling tone, e.g. Stop talking!Requests and invitations are pronounced with the rising tone. e.g. Open the  door!

4. The exclamatory sentence expresses some kind of emotion or feeling. It often begins with the word “what” and “how”. No inversion takes place. It is generally pronounced with the falling tone.

e.g. What a lovely  day it is!

Answer the following questions:

1. 
   What are the main four kinds of sentences according to the purpose of the utterance?
   
2. 
   How many types of questions are there in English?
   
3. 
   What is the intonation of general and special questions?
   
4. 
   What is the intonation of alternative and disjunctive questions?
   
5. 
   What can you say about the intonation of commands and requests?
   

INTONATION OF ENUMERATION

In sentences with enumeration every enumerated word is pronounced with the rising tone, except for the last one which is pronounced with the falling tone.

e.g. There are many  theatres,  cinemas,  museums  and  libraries here.

INTONATION OF ADVERBIALS

Adverbial phrases at the beginning of the sentence form a separate sense-group and are pronounced with the rising tone (as the non-final sense-group).

e.g. In front of the  house  there is a green  lawn.

Adverbial phrases at the end of sentences do not form a separate sense-group, as a rule, and often remain unstressed.

e.g. We are going  out tonight.

INTONATION OF PARENTHESES

Intonation of parenthetical words and phrases depends on their position in the sentence and the degree of semantic independence and importance attached to them. These words and phrases are often used in order to gain time while the speaker is framing out his remark or they show the speaker’s attitude (supposition, certainty, satisfaction, etc.). As a rule, at the beginning of the sentence parenthetical words and phrases form a separate sense-group and are generally pronounced with the rising tone.

e.g. To tell you the  truth  I don’t want to go there.  Well  I  do.

They are pronounced with the falling tone or falling-rising tones if we want to attach more importance to them.

e.g. By the  way, I hear you are going abroad this summer.

When the speaker doesn’t attach any importance to the parenthetical words and phrases at all, they do not form a separate sense-group and are often unstressed.

e.g. Well, I  do.Well, let’s ask the  others.

In the middle or at the end of the sentence parenthetical words and phrases do not often form a separate sense-group and continue the melody of the preceding sense-group (being a sense-group or half-stressed).

e.g. You  know, of course,  he’s my  brother. 

I’m not good at  languages, you know.

INTONATION OF DIRECT ADDRESS

Intonation of direct address depends on its position in the sentence and on the style of speech. At the beginning of the sentence direct address forms a separate group, it is stressed and is pronounced with the falling tone in formal serious speech.

e.g. Ladies and gentlemen,  we must discuss an important  problem today. 

It is pronounced with the falling-rising tone to attract the listener’s attention or in a friendly conversation.

e.g. Mary, come  here.

In the middle or at the end of the sentence direct address does not form a separate sense-group and continues the melody of the previous sense-group (being unstressed or half- stressed). Sometimes it may be pronounced with the low-rising tone, e.g. That’s all  right, darling.Good  morning, Mrs  Wood.

INTONATION OF “PLEASE”

Intonation of “please” depends on its position in the sentence. At the beginning of the sentence it is stressed but, as a rule, it doesn’t form a separate sense-group.

e.g. Please, repeat the nouns three  times.

In the middle of the sentence “please” can be stressed or unstressed and it doesn’t form a separate sense-group.

e.g. Will you please switch on the  tape-recorder?

At the end of the sentence “please” is unstressed, it doesn’t form a separate sense-group and is pronounced with the melody of the previous group.

e.g. Will you read  louder, please?

INTONATION OF “THANK YOU”

“Thank you” is pronounced with the rising tone to express formal politeness,

e.g. Thank you, Mrs. Smith.

“Thank you” is pronounced with the falling tone to express sincere gratitude,

e.g. You helped me so much. Thank you!

INTONATION OF COMPOUND SENTENCES

Both clauses are usually pronounced with the falling tone if they are more or less independent and each expresses a complete thought. The first clause may be pronounced with the rising tone if the speaker wants to underline a close connection in meaning between the two clauses (non-final sense-group).

e.g. Doctor Sandford’s house is not  large, but it is  comfortable.

INTONATION OF COMPLEX SENTENCES

The principal clause standing at the beginning of the sentence may take the falling or rising tone depending on the degree of semantic completeness of both clauses. It is usually pronounced with the falling tone.

e.g. Go to the  countryif you want to have a rest.

If the principal clause implies continuation and makes a separate sense-group it is pronounced with the rising tone.

e.g. I’ll tell him at  once you want to  see him.

In the subordinate clause precedes the principal one and makes a separate sense-group, it is pronounced with the rising tone as it implies continuation.

e.g. If you want to have a  rest,go to the  country.

INTONATION OF THE AUTHOR’S WORDS

The author’s words following the direct speech continue the melody of the preceding sense-group. They don’t form a separate sense-group and are unstressed or half-stressed.

e.g. “I’m not  ready,” he said.

Longer phrases may form a separate sense-group. In this case the author’s words are stressed and are pronounced with the tone of the direct speech but on a lower pitch level.

e.g. “I’m  sorry,”again repeated the landlord.

In the author’s words from two or more sense-groups, the first of them doesn’t form a separate sense-group. The second and the third are always stressed, pronounced on a low pitch level and the final sense-group is pronounced with the tone of the direct speech.

e.g. “ What a  pity,” was all I said when he broke a  glass.

The author’s words introducing the direct speech form a sense-group and are usually pronounced with the falling tone or with the rising tone which is especially common for narration in reading aloud.

e.g. He repeated his question: “Who told you  that?” He said: “The play is  perfect.”

EXERCISES

1.