Prácticas Discursivas de la Comunicación Oral III.

Piperno. 2024

TONES SUMMARY

ENGLISH INTONATION: AN INTRODUCTION. J.C. WELLS.

CHAPTER 2.

FALLING ∖

Use Examples
Main clauses or phrases -
Finality/completeness. Complete This is a ∖pen.
statement
(definitive fall) She lives in ∖Kent.
What we say is complete and we express it
with confidence, definitely and unreservedly.
Exclamations What a ∖pity!
(default tone-no other possibility)
They are expressions of surprise, anger or What a good ∖idea!
excitement. This tone is called ‘’exclamatory
fall’’.
∖Wow!
Other exclamations may be interjections, ∖Dreadful!
statements, or yes-no interrogatives.
Interjections ∖Thank you.
(default tone) Oh ∖good!
A short exclamation that expresses emotion. ∖Sure.
(Oh, ah, eh, shh, wow, etc).
Wh question Where’s my ∖knife?
(default tone)
Those questions formed with a question word Who’s ∖that?
such as who, what, which, when, where, why,
how. They ask for a more specific answer How do you spell ∖friend?
than just ‘‘yes’’ or ‘‘no’’.

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 Imperatives / Commands Stop that ∖noise!
(default tone) Stand ∖up when you answer.
When you order someone to do something.
Yes/no elliptical answers Do you know Peter?
(default tone) ∖Yes.
The elliptical answers are incomplete. There’s
some part of the sentence that is missing. Have you ever been to Paris?
∖Never.
Contradiction It was brilliant.
To contradict what the other person says. It It ∖wasn’t. (I don’t agree with what you
implies warmth and solidarity. are saying).

You haven’t paid for the coffee.

I ∖have. (= It’s OK, nothing’s wrong).
Yes/no questions Did you take the ∖money?
(non-default tone)
You can use a falling tone for yes/no Can you ∖prove that?
questions if you want to sound more
businesslike, distant, serious, threatening.
We call this ‘‘the insistent fall’’.
Insistent yes-no ‘Have you come far?
(repetition) Sorry?
It can also be used when a speaker repeats a I said, have you come ∖far.
question because the other person didn’t
hear it properly.
Tag questions The view is magnificent, ∖isn’t it? (=
(seeking agreement) I’m sure you will agree with me).
Short yes-no questions tagged onto the end
of a statement or command. With a falling We’ve been here before, ∖haven’t we?
tone, the speaker insists or expects that the (= We both know we have. He/she will
other person will agree with him/her. The agree with me).
speaker appeals for agreement (seek for
agreement). The effect of a tag question with

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 an insistent fall can even be to force the
other person to agree.

When a tag question is attached to an What a surprise, ∖wasn’t it?

exclamation, the tone is an insistent fall.
Independent elliptical question I really like it here.
(non-default tone) ∖Do you? (= I was afraid you
An independent elliptical question is a wouldn’t).
reaction to a statement using a yes-no
question, consisting just of an elliptical verb Well, it’s over now.
phrase. This resembles a tag question but it ∖Is it? (= Perhaps it isn’t over after all).
involves a change of speaker.
+ there’s a part of the question that is
missing. (ellipsis).

A falling tone means surprise or scepticism

(you don’t believe something).
Thanking ∖Thank you.
(straightforward) (= Straightforward meaning ‘’I am
For a genuine thanking. thanking you’’).
Greetings ∖Hello!
(formality) (= It just means ‘’I’m greeting you’’).
A definitive fall is more formal.
Adverbials/Adverbs Do you think I ought to say something?
(reinforcing) Of ∖course, you must protest.
The meaning of an adverbial with a falling
tone, is to reinforce it.

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 RISING /

Use Examples
Dependent clauses
(sequences of tones)
If a dependent element precedes the
main element, it is leading. If it
follows the main element, it is
trailing.

A leading dependent element is used After /lunch, we could call on Mary.

with a rise tone. It indicates that there
is more material still to come, and is First we find the /socket, then we
thus an indication of non-finality. insert the pin.

A trailing dependent element is used We’re going to Spain, in /August.

with a rise tone too. It indicates that it They’re arriving tomorrow, as fast as
belongs with what went before. I /know.

Pattern:
Fall + rise: for the order independent- They’re from ∖Portugal, they’re not
dependent. from /Spain.
Incompleteness
(non-finality) I opened the /door and…
The speaker hasn’t reached the end
of what he/she wants to say.
Vocatives I know your sister, /John.
It’s a word that addresses another
person. No, /sir, you cannot sit here.
Yes/no questions
(default tone)
1) Such questions are capable of Are you /ready?
being answered ‘‘yes’’ or ‘‘no’’. Will you be at the /meeting?
2) They can be positive or negative.

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Whatever their polarity, they usually Haven’t you /finished yet?
have a yes-no rise.

3) Requests use the grammatical Would you pass me the /water?

form of a yes-no question.
Checking Have you come far?
(repetition) /Sorry?
To ask another speaker to repeat
something because you didn’t hear it Could you turn the music down?
properly, you can say What?/ Sorry?/ /What?
Pardon? We call this tone a
‘’pardon-question rise’’.
I’ll get in touch with Martin, /right?
If while you are speaking you want to
check whether you have said the I’ll pay you back, /OK?
right thing or whether your hearer has
understood what you said, you can
use an interjection such as OK? Or
right?
Echo questions You’ll have to do it again.
A simple request for repetition or Do it /again?
clarification, or it may also express
surprise and amazement at what the Where’s the bathroom?
speaker has said. The /bathroom?
Declarative questions He took his passport? (= Did he take
Questions in form of statements and his Passport?)
they’re incomplete. Some part is You think I’m crazy? (=Do you think
missing. I’m crazy?)

Yes/no elliptical answers

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 (non-default tone) You haven’t paid for the coffee.
To contradict what the other person I /have. (= Don’t accuse me wrongly).
says. It implies defensiveness and
unfriendliness.
Encouraging rising ‘Have a cup of tea.
(independent rise) That’s very /kind of you.
Short responses encouraging further
conversation. They signal no more
than that the social interaction is
running smoothly.

You can also use it when you want to

know more about something.
Interjections Oh Mary
(non-default tone) /Yes?
It invites the other person to speak or
continue speaking. I’ve bought a new hat.
/Uh-huh. (=Tell me more about it).
It’s a short exclamation that
expresses emotion.
(Oh, ah, eh, shh, wow, etc).
Wh questions When did you /arrive?
(non-default tone)
You can use this tone if you want to How long have you been staying in
sound proximal, friendly, sympathetic, /London, sir?
gentle, kind. We call this
‘‘encouraging rising’’.

Please-repeat wh question She took a tonga.

It involves changing the focused She took a /what?
element into a question word. She did /what?
She /what?
Tag questions
Where are they going tomorrow?

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 (really asking) London, /aren’t they? (= Am I right?)
Short yes-no questions tagged onto
the end of a statement or command. We could start with the kitchen,
You can use this tone if you are /couldn’t we? (=That’s just my
genuinely asking for information. opinion).

Come over here a minute, /will you?

When there’s a command and a tag Open the window, /would you
question, the tone is a rise. please?
Independent elliptical questions I’m thinking of taking a break.
(default tone) /Are you?
An independent elliptical question is a
reaction to a statement using a yes- He has just seen Peter.
no question, consisting just of an /Has he?
elliptical verb phrase. This resembles
a tag question but it involves a
change of speaker.
+ there’s a part of the question that is
missing. (ellipsis)

It’s a kind of minimal response to He’s just seen Peter.

keep the conversation going. /Really?

It may be negative or positive. Both It wasn’t very good.

use a rising tone. /Wasn’t it?
Commands
(non-default tone)
A rising tone can be used to I’ve got something to tell you.
encourage the other speaker to Go /on.
continue.

You can use a rising tone to be Come to /Daddy.

persuasive or to sound gentle, kind. Don’t /worry.
We use this tone when speaking to

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children.
Thanking Here’s your change.
(acknowledgement/routine) /Thank you.
It’s used for a routine kind of (= As I thank you, I am
acknowledgement. acknowledging you).
Greetings /Hello. (= as I greet you, I am
(acknowledgement) acknowledging you).
A rising tone is more personal.
Farewells I’m off now. /Goodbye.
Goodbye and its equivalents. It’s a /Goodnight. See you /tomorrow.
signal of completeness but it’s said
with an encouraging rise because you
express good will and an
acknowledgement of the other
person.
Adverbials/Adverbs
(Limiting non-fall)
If placed at the beginning, they /Unfortunately, I’ve lost your letter.
usually have a leading rise or fall-
rise.

If placed at the end, they tend to have I’ve lost your letter, /unfortunately.
a trailing rise.

FALL-RISE ∨

Use Examples
Dependent clauses

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 (Sequences of tones)
If a dependent element precedes the
main element, it is leading. If it
follows the main element, it is
trailing.

A leading dependent element is used After ∨lunch, we could call on Mary.

with a dependent fall-rise tone. It
indicates that there is more material First we find the ∨socket, then we
still to come, and is thus an indication insert the pin.
of non-finality.

Pattern:
Fall-rise + fall: for the order They’re not from ∨Spain, they’re from
dependent-independent. ∖Portugal.
Incompleteness
(non-finality) I opened the ∨door and…
The speaker hasn’t reached the end
of what he/she wants to say.
Implicational fall-rise

1) Implication Who’s that? Well I know her ∨face.

The speaker implies something (Meaning = I can’t remember her
without necessary putting it into name).
words. The speaker states one thing
that implies something further. Can we fix an appointment? I could
Something is left unsaid. see you on ∨Wednesday.
It can be thought as the tone that (Meaning = I can’t on another day).
signals a but… to come.
2) Tentativeness
The speaker makes a statement but Is this the way to Holborn?
at the same time implies something I ∨think so. (but I’m not sure)
like but I’m not sure or but I don’t What shall we have to drink? We

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 want to commit myself to this. could try a ∨riesling.

3) Polite correction
If we think someone has made a She’s coming on Wednesday.
mistake, and we want to correct On ∨Thursday.
them, it’s polite to do so in a tentative
way.

∨I do. (not her).

4) Partial statement So you both live in London?
Something applies partly but not
completely.

5) Partial correction Green and blue are primary colours.

When we partly agree with the other Well ∨blue is. (but Green isn’t).
speaker, partly we disagree.

6) Negative statements I don’t want to sound ∨rude, but is

When we present something as that your dog?
not true.

She’s refused to pay.

I don’t think that’s ∨true.
Negative commands Don’t start until you’re ∨ready.
They don’t necessarily mean a
warning. Don’t forget the ∨salt.
Warning Watch ∨out!
(Implicational warning) Do as I ∨say (= or something bad will
There’s a background meaning. happen).

Irony and sarcasm

Irony is used when we say something Other people have done it before, you
but we mean the opposite of what we know.
just said. That doesn’t mean ∨you have to,

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 does it?
Sarcasm is used when you want to (Well, well, well dialogue).
hurt someone’s feelings.
Adverbials
(Limiting non-fall) ∨Unfortunately, I’ve lost your letter.
If placed at the beginning, they ∨Frankly, I’m rather annoyed.
usually have a leading rise or fall-
rise.

RISE-FALL ⋀

Use Examples
Surprise or shock What a ⋀disaster!
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The speaker is impressed (or expects
the listener to be impressed). It can
be found in statements, exclamations Have you heard about Bill? He’s been
and yes-no questions. NOT with wh- ⋀fired!
questions.
Gossip Jane’s left her husband.
It can also be used for gossip. ⋀Terrible.
(talk about what you heard about
someone) Sally’s just had triplets.
My ⋀goodness!
High enthusiasm I’ll be staying for a ⋀month.
The speaker shows enthusiasm or (excitement)
excitement, passion.
Challenge I need a break.
You can use a rise-fall tone to show Don’t we ⋀all!
disapproval or to challenge someone.
They’re going to be late again.
They always ⋀are late.
Dismissal of involvement
Lack of interest, less involvement. -
You don’t want to be involved.

LEVEL TONE –

Use Examples
Thinking/Hesitating Have you tried taking anything for

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It’s used when you make a pause or your cough?
you think before saying something. –Well…the usual honey and hot
lemon.
(Mrs. Newel dialogue)
Praying Our –father, who art in heaven,
(religion) hallowed be thy name…
False starts At the moment there’s no sign of
It’s used when you realize you have
Chine–…China wanting Chinese to
made a mistake and you correct
be a global language.
yourself.
(David Crystal: Will English always
be the global language? dialogue).
Interruption I don’t want an abortion. I –want to…
It’s used when someone is talking
You can’t.
and it’s interrupted by another
(Well, well, well dialogue)
person.

Patterns

Leading Clause Though I hate ∨sports, I enjoy

A dependent clause in initial position. ∖tennis.

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  Dependent clause: Fall-rise or
rise
 Independent clause: Fall
Trailing Clause I enjoy ∖tennis, though I hate /sports.
A dependent clause in final position.

 Dependent clause: Rise or fall-

rise
 Independent clause: Fall
Fall + Rise
This pattern is a very characteristic I ∖hope you’ll be able to come.
way for a speaker to emphasize
something early in the utterance.

It’s also used when the first nucleus I’m ∖glad you found it /interesting.
has a word referring to a mental I ∖do wish you wouldn’t /complain so
state, or an intensifying word. much.

The part with the fall contains the How can we get there?
most important idea, while the part ∖Walking’s the /easiest way.
with the rise contains an idea of The ∖tube would be /quickest.
secondary importance.

Topic + Comment

Minor information/Secondary My /brother (topic) will be very

information ∖angry (comment).
(topic)
A topic is the subject or theme that
we’re talking about.

Major information/primary
information

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 (comment)
A comment is the thing we say about In the /morning (topic) we’ll do some
the subject or topic. ∖sightseeing (comment).

Pattern:
Rise / for the topic + fall ∖ for the
comment.
Open and closed lists
You can have /coffee or /tea.
Open list (= There are other possibilities. You
(Open non-fall) can choose among different things
It suggests that matters are open. although they were not mentioned.
There are more options. You can have coffee, tea, water,
orange juice, etc).

Closed list
(Closed fall) You can have /coffee or ∖tea.
It suggests that matters are closed. (= There are no more options. You
There are no more options. must choose between these two).
Meaning of tone
Proclaiming + referring

Proclaiming ∨Mary Brown’s a ∖teacher.

We proclaim a new fact about a topic. (= new information: she’s a teacher).

Referring ∨Mary Brown’s a ∖teacher.

We refer to a topic already (= we both know Mary Brown.).
mentioned.

It focuses on some item that is

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already in the common ground.

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