In English, intonation plays a crucial role in conveying meaning, and this is particularly true for yes-no questions. The intonation pattern typically involves a rising pitch towards the end of the sentence. Here are the two main patterns:
Rising Intonation ----- ^:
This is the most common intonation pattern for yes-no questions. The pitch of the voice rises towards the end of the sentence.
Example: "Did you go to the store?"
In this example, the pitch rises on the word "store," signaling that the speaker is seeking confirmation or a positive response.
Falling-Rising Intonation ---v--^:
In some cases, especially when the speaker is surprised or seeking clarification, thre may be a brief drop in pitch followed by a rise at the end of the sentence.
Example: "You went to the store?"
In this case, there's a slight drop in pitch on "store," creating a sort of surprised or questioning tone.
In general, the rising intonation at the end of a yes-no question invites the listener to respond, providing either a positive (yes) or negative (no) answer. The specific intonation pattern can also convey additional nuances such as surprise, doubt, or curiosity, depending on the context and the speaker's intention.
Remember: Ultimately, the intonation pattern of any statement can be tempered by the intended meaning the speaker wants to convey. [기억하세요: 궁극적으로, 어떤 진술의 억양 패턴은 발화자가 전하고자 하는 의도에 따라 조절될 수 있습니다. ]
Practice...
Here are the same sentences with the word(s) that MIGHT receive the falling intonation emphasized in CAPITAL letters:
Set-up: Mia always claims to dislike horror movies. [미아는 항상 공포 영화를 싫어한다고 말해 왔어요 ]
"You watched three horror MOVIES in-a row?"
Set-up: June is known for being a neat freak. [윤이는 깔끔함으로 알려져 있어요]
"You're leaving your room WITHOUT making your bed?"
Set-up: Ski usually avoids spicy food. [스키는 일반적으로 매운 음식을 피해요.]
"You're ordering the EXTRA-SPICY curry?"
Set-up: Joy has a fear of heights.[조이는 고소공포증이 있어요.]
"You're going on a ROLLER COASTER voluntarily?"
Set-up: Sam usually prefers staying in on weekends. [샘은 일반적으로 주말에는 집에 머무르는 것을 선호해요.]
"You want to go BUNGEE JUMPING for-our date night?"
Set-up: Heejeong claims to have no interest in celebrity gossip. [희정은 연예 소식에 관심이 없다고 주장합니다.]
"You know all the DETAILS-about the latest celebrity scandal?"
Set-up: Daisy is known for always taking meticulous notes. [데이지는 항상 꼼꼼한 노트를 작성하는 것으로 알려져 있습니다.]
"You forgot your NOTEBOOK for the lecture?"
Set-up: Grace is a dedicated vegetarian. [그레이스는 헌신적인 채식주의자입니다.]
"You're grilling HAMBURGERS for the barbecue?"
Set-up: Sam avoids technology and social media.[샘은 기술과 소셜 미디어를 피해요.]
"You started DOING YOUR own podcast?"
Set-up: John is notoriously late every class. [존은 수업마다 늦게 오는 것으로 알려져 있습니다.]
"You're EARLY for the meeting?"