G***G
发帖数: 16778 | 1 As we all know, we should use rising intonation in the end of a
general question sentence, such as 'Is this a cat?'
But we also observed a lot of rising intonation in the middle of sentence.
I am wondering whether someone can explain why this happens
and answer how and when we should use rising intonation in
the middle of sentence.
thank you. | l********f
发帖数: 4 | 2 I am confused by the rising intonation in the middle of the sentence as well
. It seems so common but very few mentioning of it, even in lectures that
teach intonation. I asked one of my coworker, who is a native speaker, this
question. He wasn't able provide a good answer. Pretty much he just say
that's how some people talks, and he personally doesn't do that very often.
Anyway, my understanding so far is that rising intonation in the middle of
the sentence is not technically a full rising intonation, it is more of a
softening of the tone. For example, in the following video, 0:38 --"Even if
I knew, I wouldn't tell you." The tone of "knew" is softened, and it
sounds like rising intonation. However, it is just my guess. What do you
think?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nGc17j58Q4c
【在 G***G 的大作中提到】
: As we all know, we should use rising intonation in the end of a
: general question sentence, such as 'Is this a cat?'
: But we also observed a lot of rising intonation in the middle of sentence.
: I am wondering whether someone can explain why this happens
: and answer how and when we should use rising intonation in
: the middle of sentence.
: thank you.
| m******e
发帖数: 536 | 3 --"Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you."
You just offered a good example to show the case of rising intonation in the
middle of a complex sentence (having both a dependent and an independent
clause).This is the so called "slight rise" pattern, commonly used at the
end of the conditional or dependent clause (the word "knew") in a complex
sentence.
At the word "knew" the the whole sentence is imcomplete yet. If you use the
falling intonation as in the of case of a statement, it may signal to the
audience that the sentence is finished there. So using a slight rise (not
too much as in the case of a yes/no questioning sentence) intonation shows
that there is still a independent clause coming next and the whole thing is
not finished yet.
Another example in this kind will be:
"If we were base enough to desire it, it is now too late to retire from the
contest."
(from Patrick Henry "Give me liberty or give me death". Here you use the
slight rise on the first "it")
Another common place to apply this pattern is in those sentences with the
words such as "although".
Example:
Although the teacher was absent, the students stayed in the class and had a
good discussion of the topic schedule for that day.
(Slight rise on "absent")
In summary, "Slight Rise" is generally used at the end of a conditional or
dependent clause of a complex sentence to signal the whole sentence and the
flow of meaning are not finished yet.
well
this
.
if
【在 l********f 的大作中提到】
: I am confused by the rising intonation in the middle of the sentence as well
: . It seems so common but very few mentioning of it, even in lectures that
: teach intonation. I asked one of my coworker, who is a native speaker, this
: question. He wasn't able provide a good answer. Pretty much he just say
: that's how some people talks, and he personally doesn't do that very often.
: Anyway, my understanding so far is that rising intonation in the middle of
: the sentence is not technically a full rising intonation, it is more of a
: softening of the tone. For example, in the following video, 0:38 --"Even if
: I knew, I wouldn't tell you." The tone of "knew" is softened, and it
: sounds like rising intonation. However, it is just my guess. What do you
| l********f
发帖数: 4 | 4 Thank you, meditate! That's great explanation.
In conversations, some people like to use "slight rise" pattern to indicate
they haven't finished yet. But not everybody does that. For example it
seems that young girls do that more than other people. What do you think? | m******e
发帖数: 536 | 5 In all honesty I don't know the answer to your new question. I myself cannot
evn answer the previous question, and my explanation there actually came
from the teaching materials of my private English speech and communication
coach. The "sligh rise" is just one of intonation patterns he's summarized
in his teaching.
For example it
| l********f
发帖数: 4 | 6 Thanks anyway. My understanding so far is that slight rise to signal the
speaker hasn't finish is fine. However if it is done with too high a rising
, it becomes "high rising terminal" or "uptalk". It supposed to be quite
negative, but it is actually very popular. The first part of this video
explains quite well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjKMNyZ2oTc | G***G
发帖数: 16778 | 7 thank you.
When should/can we NOT rise the tone at the end of a conditional clause?
the
the
【在 m******e 的大作中提到】
: --"Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you."
: You just offered a good example to show the case of rising intonation in the
: middle of a complex sentence (having both a dependent and an independent
: clause).This is the so called "slight rise" pattern, commonly used at the
: end of the conditional or dependent clause (the word "knew") in a complex
: sentence.
: At the word "knew" the the whole sentence is imcomplete yet. If you use the
: falling intonation as in the of case of a statement, it may signal to the
: audience that the sentence is finished there. So using a slight rise (not
: too much as in the case of a yes/no questioning sentence) intonation shows
| m******e
发帖数: 536 | 8 If the conditional clause is put at the end rather than at the beginning of
a complex sentence, then you don't have to use the rising intonation. For
example, if you just simply change the order of that example sentence,
--"Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you." (slight rise on "knew")
---" I wouldn't tell you, even if I knew." ( You don't have to rise your
tone on either "you" or "knew".)
【在 G***G 的大作中提到】
: thank you.
: When should/can we NOT rise the tone at the end of a conditional clause?
:
: the
: the
| G***G
发帖数: 16778 | 9 thank you.
For the conidtional clauses which are at the beginning of a complex sentence,
should we use rise tone always?
of
【在 m******e 的大作中提到】
: If the conditional clause is put at the end rather than at the beginning of
: a complex sentence, then you don't have to use the rising intonation. For
: example, if you just simply change the order of that example sentence,
: --"Even if I knew, I wouldn't tell you." (slight rise on "knew")
: ---" I wouldn't tell you, even if I knew." ( You don't have to rise your
: tone on either "you" or "knew".)
| S*******l
发帖数: 4637 | 10 想强调哪一部分，就加重哪一部分语气。很灵活，不要硬记。语境会自然提醒你。这种
情况再和人交流的时候会很自然发生的。 |
|
