THE INTONATION STRUCTURE OF ENGLISH

Abstract

Intonation, the rise and fall of pitch in speech, is a fundamental aspect of spoken English that helps convey meaning, emotion, and emphasis. Unlike tonal languages, where pitch directly affects the meaning of words, English uses intonation to influence the meaning of sentences and utterances. This article explores the different types of intonation patterns, such as rising, falling, and rise-fall, and their functions in communication. It examines the role of intonation in grammatical, attitudinal, discourse, and pragmatic functions, highlighting how it shapes spoken English. Furthermore, the article addresses common challenges learners face when mastering intonation, such as monotony, misplaced stress, and the influence of native language patterns. The importance of teaching techniques such as visual aids, modeling, and role-playing is also emphasized. The article concludes by stressing the significance of intonation for achieving fluency and naturalness in spoken English.