intonation (n.)

A term used in the study of SUPRASEGMENTAL PHONOLOGY, referring to the distinctive use of patterns of PITCH, or melody. The study of intonation is sometimes called intonology. Several ways of analyzing intonation have been suggested: in some approaches, the pitch patterns are described as CONTOURS and analyzed in terms of LEVELS of pitch as pitch PHONEMES and MORPHEMES; in others, the patterns are described as TONE UNITS or tone groups, analyzed further as contrasts of NUCLEAR tone, TONICITY, etc. The three variables of pitch range, height and direction are generally distinguished. Some approaches, especially within PRAGMATICS, operate with a much broader notion than that of the tone unit: intonational phrasing is a structured HIERARCHY of the intonational CONSTITUENTS in conversation. A formal category of intonational phrase is also sometimes recognized: an UTTERANCE span dominated by BOUNDARY TONES.

Intonation performs several functions in language. Its most important function is as a signal of GRAMMATICAL structure, where it performs a role similar to punctuation in writing, but involving far more contrasts. The marking of SENTENCE, CLAUSE and other boundaries, and the contrast between some grammatical structures, such as QUESTIONS and statements, may be made using intonation. For example, the change in meaning illustrated by ‘Are you asking me or telling me’ is regularly signalled by a contrast between RISING and FALLING pitch, e.g. He’s going, isn’t he? (= I’m asking you) opposed to He’s going, isn’t he! (= I’m telling you). A second role of intonation is in the communication of personal attitude: sarcasm, puzzlement, anger, etc., can all be signalled by contrasts in pitch, along with other PROSODIC and PARALINGUISTIC features. Other roles of intonation in language have been suggested, e.g. as one of the ways of signalling social background.

Intonation patterns can be seen as a sequence of pitch levels, or ‘tones’, but this use of ‘tone’ has to be distinguished from that encountered in the phrase TONE LANGUAGE, where it refers to the use of pitch to make contrasts of meaning at WORD level.