THE MEANING OF TONES IN DISCOURSE Part3

Understanding the Role of Intonation and Pitch in Discourse

The Functions of Intonation

• Intonation serves as a cohesive device, influencing how relationships are established in discourse.

• It is linked to grammatical constructions, where intonational units may correspond with phrases, sentences, or clauses.

Tonal Combinations in Lists

• Three tonal combinations exist for enumerating items:

• First and second items with referring tone; last item with full tone indicates no more elements.

• All items with referring tones suggest further items can be added.

• Full tones for all items indicate they do not form a cohesive unit.

Memory and Cognitive Activity in Enumeration

• Level tones may reflect memory activity when listing items that are newly created or partially remembered.

• Enumerations and disjunctions have pragmatic meanings that reinforce speech acts like criticisms or decision-making processes.

Adverbial Phrases and Intonation Patterns

• The intonation pattern depends on whether adverbials are phrases or clauses; preferred patterns include fall-rise at the beginning and rise at the end.

• Distinction between syntactic meaning and discourse meaning is crucial; e.g., "now" can signal topic initiation or present moment based on intonation.

Tag Questions: Structure and Function

• Tag questions serve as shortened inquiries that invite confirmation from listeners, typically featuring a rising tone.

• A high key response from the listener indicates disagreement, necessitating mitigation to maintain social harmony.

Pragmatic Effects of Syntactic Structures

• Tag questions (or tails), often used by women according to early studies, illustrate gender use and regional preferences in language.

• These structures can mitigate face-threatening acts (FTAs), highlighting their importance in maintaining tactfulness during interactions.