Intonation patterns
The rise and fall of pitch across an utterance, conveying grammatical information, emotion, and speaker attitude. A falling intonation typically signals statement finality, while a rising intonation suggests questioning or uncertainty.
Real World
When a teenager says 'I'm fine' with a sharply falling tone after an argument, the intonation contradicts the words, conveying irritation — a pattern comedians like Michael McIntyre exaggerate for laughs.
Exam Focus
Describe intonation as 'rising' or 'falling' with its pragmatic effect — never just say 'tone of voice'.
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