Definition

Noun: A distinctive and recognizable sequence or contour of pitch changes in spoken language that conveys a specific type of utterance, such as a question, request, or statement. It is the melodic pattern that gives an utterance its particular pragmatic meaning beyond the literal words.

Usage

The term "intonation pattern" is used to describe and analyze the systematic rise and fall of the voice during speech. It is a key component of prosody and is crucial for understanding speaker intent and sentence type in spoken English.

Examples

• In English, a common intonation pattern for yes/no questions is a rising pitch at the end of the sentence (e.g., "You're coming? ↗").
• The falling intonation pattern at the end of a declarative statement makes it sound definite and finished (e.g., "It's raining. ↘").
• Linguists study the intonation pattern used for making polite requests, which often differs from the pattern used for commands.

Advanced Usage

• Contrastive Focus: An intonation pattern can be used to emphasize a specific word for contrast (e.g., "I said car, not yours.").
• Attitudinal Meaning: Different intonation patterns can convey the speaker's attitude, such as surprise, sarcasm, or boredom, using the same sequence of words.

Variants and Related Words

• Intonation (n): The broader concept of the rise and fall of the voice in speaking, of which an intonation pattern is a specific instance.
• Pitch Contour (n): A near-synonym often used in phonetic and linguistic analysis to describe the pattern of pitch over an utterance.
• Prosodic Pattern (n): A more general term that can include patterns of intonation, stress, and rhythm.

Synonyms

• Pitch pattern
• Melodic contour
• Tune (informal in linguistic contexts)

Related Phrases

• Question intonation: Refers specifically to the intonation pattern associated with asking questions.
• Statement intonation: Refers specifically to the intonation pattern associated with making declarations.

Notes

While "intonation pattern" is a compound noun, its meaning is specialized and fixed within linguistics and language teaching. It is treated as a single conceptual unit describing a specific auditory phenomenon.

Noun

1. intonations characteristic of questions and requests and statements