SS1 Third Term English Language Lesson Note – Introduction to Intonation Pattern

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WEEK: 8

ASPECTS:

Speech Work: Introduction to Intonation Pattern

Comprehension: Road Traffic Accidents.

Vocabulary Development: Words associated with Profession- Advertising

Structure: Auxiliary Verbs-Modals

Writing Skills: Argumentative Essay – “Child Abuse, who is to be blamed – Government or Parents? (Written)

ASPECT: Speech Work

TOPIC: Introduction to Intonation Pattern

Intonation means the variation of the level of the voice in a continuous speech. When English is spoken, the level of the voice (otherwise called pitch) goes up or down, and the different notes of the voice combine to make tones. The changes in pitch are important because if there are no such changes, the speech would sound monotonous or even meaningless.

Intonation is used meaningfully in all languages but while it is used to distinguish words of the same spelling in many Nigerian languages, it is used in English to give special meaning to an utterance. The utterance could be a word, a phrase or a sentence. Intonation is so important in English that it forms an important part of the spoken utterance and shows a speaker’s attitude to what he is saying or to his listener. Intonation may indicate doubt, certainty, disbelief, interest or indifference.

Functions of Intonation

Intonation performs two basic functions in English. These are grammatical and attitudinal functions.

In considering grammatical function, it is associated with specific sentence types. In that case, intonation indicates whether a sentence is an ordinary statement, order/command, question, request, greeting, declaration, exclamation, etc. On the other hand, the attitudinal function of intonation is associated with the mood of the speaker to an issue under discussion or towards his listener(s). In this case, intonation indicates whether the speaker, on what is being discussed, is doubtful, surprise, indifferent, interested, uninterested, certain, uncertain, etc.

Classification of Intonation

There are two basic classes of intonation. These are:

1. Falling tune/tone
2. Rising tune/tone.

However, the following types of intonation can be identified also. These are:

1. Fall and rise tune
2. Rise and fall tune.

EVALUATION: What is an intonation?

1. Mention and explain the two basic functions of intonation.

ASSIGNMENT: Explain the attitudinal function of intonation.

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