Functions of Intonation in Languages

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Questions and Answers

What is the primary role of the attitudinal or expressive function in speech?

  • To express emotions or attitudes beyond lexical meaning (correct)
  • To enforce coherent structures in discourse
  • To highlight new information over old information
  • To convey syntax and grammatical structure

Which function of intonation helps to indicate the boundaries of phrases and clauses?

  • Discourse function
  • Accentual function
  • Grammatical function (correct)
  • Naturalness function

How does the discourse or cohesive function aid in conversation?

  • By emphasizing the lexical meaning of words
  • By indicating whether an utterance requires a response (correct)
  • By presenting contrasting information only
  • By altering the emotional tone of the speech

Which intonation function is primarily concerned with drawing the listener’s attention to specific information?

<p>Accentual, informational or focusing function (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes new information from old information in the context of intonation?

<p>New information usually has falling tones while old information has rising tones (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following functions of intonation is NOT mentioned?

<p>Emotional function (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the lexico-semantic function of intonation primarily focus on?

<p>Conveying the meanings of words through tonal variation (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best captures the role of the naturalness or indexical function?

<p>Connecting speech to contextual or situational cues (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What function of intonation allows listeners to identify who is speaking?

<p>Naturalness or indexical function (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following functions of intonation deals primarily with expressing emotions?

<p>Attitudinal function (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In tone languages, what is primarily affected by pitch movement?

<p>Lexical meaning (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which intonation function aids in highlighting specific information within a sentence?

<p>Accentual function (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What aspect of communication is indicated by tone patterns denoting turn-taking?

<p>Content negotiation (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which intonation function involves understanding the structure of sentences?

<p>Grammatical function (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What does the lexico-semantic function specifically focus on in tone languages?

<p>Pitch movement to indicate meaning (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is least related to the sociolinguistic function of intonation?

<p>Expressive emotional tones (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Attitudinal function of intonation

Expressing emotions or attitudes in speech, going beyond the literal meaning of words.

Focusing function of intonation

Highlighting specific information in a sentence to draw the listener's attention.

Grammatical function of intonation

Distinguishing different parts of speech (phrases, clauses, statements, questions) and showing their boundaries.

Discourse function of intonation

Expressing intentions, managing turns, and showing shared knowledge in conversation.

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New vs. Old Information (Intonation)

Using intonation to show what information is new and what is already known. Falling tones for new, rising for old.

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Contrast in Intonation

Using intonation to show comparisons/differences between parts of a sentence or between different ideas.

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Intonation in Grammatical Structures

Intonation helps show the structure of sentences by indicating phrases, clauses, and sentence types (statements, questions, etc.).

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Intonation and Coherence

Intonation helps to show how different parts of a sentence or conversation fit together.

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Intonation's Turn-Taking Function

Intonation patterns signal who speaks next and what kind of response is expected.

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Intonation's Indexical Function

Distinctive patterns identify the speaker or the type of speech (e.g., mother, lawyer).

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Intonation's Sociolinguistic Function

Intonation patterns distinguish between speakers or types of speech (e.g., mothers, lawyers).

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Lexico-semantic Function of Intonation

In some languages, different pitches change the meaning of words.

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Accentual Function of Intonation

Intonation highlights specific words to emphasize meaning.

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Study Notes

Functions of Intonation

  • Intonation conveys emotions and attitudes in speech, often beyond the literal meaning. Examples include different ways of saying "Good morning" to express various attitudes.
  • Intonation emphasizes elements in speech, allowing listeners to focus on particular pieces of information.
  • Intonation differentiates sentence structure, separating phrases, clauses, statements, and questions.
  • It facilitates communication by indicating intentions and discourse expectations.
  • Intonation distinguishes new from old information.
  • Different speech patterns, such as rising or falling tones, reveal the speaker's identity and the type of discourse being spoken.
  • Some languages, such as Mandarin Chinese and certain African languages, use pitch variations to distinguish words. Yoruba, for example, has three tones.

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