Intonation in English - English Pronunciation Lesson

英语语调 — 英语发音课程

Hi, I’m Kae.

嗨，我是Kae。

Welcome to Oxford Online English!

欢迎来到Oxford Online English！

In this lesson, you can learn about intonation in English.

在本节课里，您可以学到英语的语调。

How important is intonation?

语调有多重要？

Let’s see.

我们来看看。

Look at a sentence:

看一个句子：

Do you need some help?

Do you need some help?

It’s a simple question, but by changing the intonation, you can change the meaning

那是一个简单的问题，但是，通过 改变语调，您可以完全地

completely.

改变意思。

For example, it can be a simple question, where you’re really offering to help:

例如，那可以是一个简单的问题， 您已经准备提供帮助：

Do you need some help?

Do you need some help?

It can be a rhetorical question, where you don’t really think the person needs help,

那可以是一个修辞性的问题，您并 不真正地认为那个人需要帮助，

but you want to be polite:

但是您想表现得有礼貌。

Do you need some help?

Do you need some help?

It can show that you’re annoyed with the person you’re talking to:

那可以表明您生正在与您 交谈的那个人的气：

Do you need some help?

Do you need some help?

It can be sarcastic:

那可能是讽刺的：

Do you need some help?

Do you need some help?

It can show surprise that the other person might need your help:

那可能表明惊讶对方也许 需要您的帮助：

Do you need some help?

Do you need some help?

There are other possibilities, too!

也有其他的可能性。

You can see that intonation is a very powerful tool.

您可以看到语调是一个 非常有用的工具。

Controlling your intonation is important for communication in spoken English.

控制您的语调对英语口语 沟通是重要的。

So, let’s start at the very beginning: what actually is intonation?

所以，我们从很初级的开始： 语调实际上是什么？

There are seven possible intonation patterns in English:

英语里有七种可能的语调结构：

rising falling

升调 降调

rising-falling falling-rising

由升至降 有降至升

flat high

平调 高调

low

低调

The most important are the first four: rising, falling, and combinations of rising and falling

最重要的是前四个：升调、 降调，以及升调和

tones.

降调的组合调。

Flat tones, including high and low tones, aren’t common and don’t have many uses,

平调，包括高调和低调， 是不常见的，并且使用不多。

so we won’t talk about them today.

所以，我们今天不会谈它们。

However, rising and falling tones can each have many different meanings.

然而，升调和降调可以每个 都有很多不同的意思。

Keep this in mind: one intonation pattern does not mean one thing.

记住这个：一个语调结构不意味着 一件事情。

The same intonation can have different meanings in different situations.

相同的语调在不同的语境可以 有不同的意思。

Also, intonation is flexible.

同样，语调是灵活的。

There are rules, but the rules are not one hundred per cent fixed.

有规则，但是，规则不是百分 之一百固定的。

Different people speak in different styles.

不同的人用不同的风格讲。

Let’s practice!

我们来练习！

Here’s a word: Let’s try saying the word with different

这里是一个单词：我们试着 用不同的语调结构

intonation patterns.

来念单词。

Repeat after me.

跟着我重复。

Rising: where?

升调：where?

Falling: where?

降调： where?

Rising-falling: where?

升调转降调：where?

Falling-rising: where?

降调转升调： where?

Let’s try one more time, with two words:

我们再试一次，用两个单词：

How many?

How many?

Rising: how many Falling: how many?

升调： how many 降调：: how many?

Rising-falling: how many?

升调转降调： how many?

Falling-rising: how many?

降调转升调： how many?

If you can pronounce these four intonation patterns, you can already do most of what

如果您念这四个语调结构，您可能 已经可以用英语做大部分

you need in English.

您要的事情了。

So, how do you use these intonation patterns?

所以，您怎么使用这些语调结构？

The most basic rule is that you use a falling tone to show the end of a sentence.

最基本的规则是您使用降调来 表明句子结束。

For example: I live in Madrid.

例如： I live in Madrid.

She’s a lawyer.

She’s a lawyer.

We might be a bit late.

We might be a bit late.

You can use a rising tone to show that your sentence isn’t finished yet.

您可以使用一个升调来表明您的 句子还没有结束。

For example: I live in Madrid, but I was born in Canada.

例如： I live in Madrid, but I was born in Canada.

She’s a lawyer, although she isn’t working at the moment.

She’s a lawyer, although she isn’t working at the moment.

We might be a bit late, because I don’t finish work until seven.

We might be a bit late, because I don’t finish work until seven.

That’s the most basic rule, and it’s important.

那是最基本的规则，那是重要的。

If you don’t use rising or falling tones in the right places, people won’t understand

如果您没有在正确的地方使用升调 或降调，人们不理解您

whether you’ve finished speaking or not.

是否结束了您的讲话。

However, there are many other ways to use these intonation patterns.

然而，有很多其他方式来使用这些 语调结构。

Let’s look at another.

我们看看另一个。

Did you get some bread?

Did you get some bread?

I thought you were going to get the bread!

I thought you were going to get the bread!

How are we going to make sandwiches if we don’t have any bread?

How are we going to make sandwiches if we don’t have any bread?

We can go to the bakery and buy some sandwiches there.

We can go to the bakery and buy some sandwiches there.

But, I think the bakery is closed on Saturdays.

But, I think the bakery is closed on Saturdays.

It’s not Saturday today; it’s Sunday!

It’s not Saturday today; it’s Sunday!

Oh…

Oh…

Can you work out what was going on in that dialogue?

您可以找出在那个对话里发生了 什么事情吗？

After the first question: did you get some bread, you heard five sentences.

在第一个问题之后：did you get some bread，您听到了五个句子。

Listen again if you need to; can you hear the intonation?

如果您需要，再听一遍；您能 听出语调吗？

Before, you heard that you use falling intonation at the end of your sentence, but here, the

之前，您听到您在句子的结尾使用 降调，但是，在这里，结构

pattern is often the opposite:

经常是相反的：

I thought you were going to get the bread!

I thought you were going to get the bread!

Do you know why this is?

Do you know why this is?

This is our second rule about intonation: you use a falling tone to show that information

这是我们关于语调的第二个规则： 您使用一个降调来表明信息是

is new, and you use a rising tone for old information.

新的，您用一个升调来表明旧信息。

In this sentence, the bread has already been mentioned, so it’s ‘old’ information,

在这个句子里，Bread已经被 提及了，所以它是“旧”信息，

and you pronounce it with a rising tone.

您使用一个升调来发音。

However, the word you gets a falling tone, because this is the new idea in the sentence.

然而，您得到了一个降调的单词， 因为这在句子里是新的信息。

Let’s look at the next example:

我们来看下一个例子：

How are we going to make sandwiches if we don’t’ have any bread?

How are we going to make sandwiches if we don’t’ have any bread?

Here, the idea is the same.

在这里，意思是一样的。

The bread is ‘old’ information, so you pronounce it with a rising tone.

Bread是"旧“信息，所以， 您用一个升调发音。

The sandwiches are new information; this is the first time anyone has talked about sandwiches.

Sandwiches是新的信息；这是第一次 有人谈及sandwiches。

New information gets a falling tone.

新信息有一个降调。

In the next sentence, which word is ‘old’ information, and which word is ‘new’ information?

在下一个句子，哪一个单词是”旧“ 信息，哪一个是”新“信息？

Sandwiches are ‘old’ information, because we already mentioned them.

Sandwiches是”旧“信息，因为我们 已经提到了它们。

So, pronounce sandwiches with a rising tone.

所以，用一个升调来发sandwiches的音。

The bakery is ‘new’ information, because this is the first time anyone has mentioned

Bakery是”新“信息，因为这是 第一次有人

it.

提及它。

So, bakery has a falling tone.

所以，Bakery有一个降调。

In the last two sentences, the pattern is reversed, but the idea is the same:

在最后两句，结构是相反的，但是， 想法是一样的：

But, I think the bakery is closed on Saturdays.

但是，我认为面包店在周六是关门的。

It’s not Saturday today; it’s Sunday!

今天不是周六，是周日！

In the first sentence, the bakery is now ‘old’ information, so it gets a rising tone.

在第一句，Bakery现在是”旧“信息， 所以，它有一个升调。

The ‘new’ information, with a falling tone, comes at the end of the sentence.

”新“信息，有降调，出现在句末。

You can see the same pattern in the second sentence: the ‘old’ information—Saturday—comes

您能在第二句看到相同的结构： ”旧“信息 — Saturday —

first, and the ‘new’ information—Sunday—is at the end of the sentence.

先出现，以及”新“信息 — Sunday — 在句末。

If you want more practice with this, go back to the dialogue.

如果您想做这个的更多练习， 回到对话。

Pause after each sentence, and repeat, trying to copy the intonation.

在每一句之后暂停，并重复， 试着复读语调。

Pay attention to the way intonation changes on the same word as it changes from new to

注意当相同单词从新信息变成 旧信息时，它的语调

old information.

方式的改变。

Now let’s look at a very important use of intonation: questions.

现在我们来看语调的一个非常 重要的用法：问题。

Where did you go for your vacation?

Where did you go for your vacation?

I went to Dubrovnik.

I went to Dubrovnik.

Is that in Croatia?

Is that in Croatia?

Yes, on the coast.

Yes, on the coast.

Have you ever been?

Have you ever been?

No, never.

No, never.

Did you have a good time?

Did you have a good time?

Very nice, though it’s quite touristy.

Very nice, though it’s quite touristy.

You got back yesterday, right?

You got back yesterday, right?

Yeah, late in the evening.

Yeah, late in the evening.

Are you feeling tired?

Are you feeling tired?

No, not too bad, actually!

No, not too bad, actually!

In the dialogue, you heard six questions.

在对话里，您听到了六个问题。

Three of them had rising tones, and three had falling tones.

三个有升调，三个有降调。

Do you know why the intonation is different in different questions?

您知道为什么语调在不同的问题里 是不同的吗？

Sometimes, when you’re asking a question, you have no idea of the answer.

有时，当您在问一个问题，您对 答案没主意。

You’re asking a question to find out new information.

您要问问题来找出新的信息。

In this case, the question has a falling tone:

在这里，问题有一个降调：

Where did you go for your vacation? Have you ever been?

Where did you go for your vacation? Have you ever been?

Did you have a good time?

Did you have a good time?

Sometimes, when you ask a question, you already have some idea of the answer.

有时，当您问一个问题时，您已经 对回答有一些预料想法了。

You’re asking a question to check something, or to confirm that your idea is right.

您在问一个问题来验证某些事情， 或者确认您的想法是对的。

In this case, the question has a rising tone:

在这件事例，问题有一个升调：

Is that in Croatia? --> I think Dubrovnik is in Croatia, but I’m asking to make sure.

Is that in Croatia? -->我认为杜布罗夫尼克 在克罗地亚，但是，我想要确认。

You got back yesterday, right? --> I had an idea that you got back yesterday, and I’m

You got back yesterday, right? --> 我认为您昨天回来的，我在

confirming this with you.

和您确认这件事情。

Are you feeling tired? --> You told me you got back late in the evening, so I guess you’re

Are you feeling tired? --> 您告诉我 您晚上很晚才回来，所以，

tired.

我猜您累了。

This means that the intonation of a question can change depending on the situation.

这意味着一个问题的语调可以 根据情形改变。

If you use a falling tone, this becomes a question to find new information.

如果您使用一个降调，这会成为一个 要找到新信息的问题。

This means you really have no idea whether Dubrovnik is in Croatia or not, and you want

这意味着您对杜布罗夫尼克是否 在克罗地亚真的没主意，

to know.

您想知道。

You can ask:

您可以问：

Where did you go for your vacation?

Where did you go for your vacation?

If you ask this with a rising tone, it could suggest that you knew the answer before, and

如果您用升调来问这个，那可能 意味着您之前知道答案，

you just want a reminder.

您只是想要一个提醒。

You’re checking something you already knew; you’re not asking for completely new information.

您在验证您已经知道的某些事情； 您不是在问一个完全是新的信息。

Using this intonation will help you to sound more natural, but it doesn’t change the

使用这个语调会帮助您听起来更 自然，但是，那不会

meaning of the question.

改变问题的意思。

However, there are many other intonation patterns in questions which do have different meanings.

然而，在有不同意思的问题里有 很多其他的语调结构。

Let’s look!

我们来看看！

What a fantastic film! Wasn’t it great?

What a fantastic film! Wasn’t it great?

Are you insane? It was the worst movie I’ve seen all year.

Are you insane? It was the worst movie I’ve seen all year.

Why would you say that? It was amazing!

Why would you say that? It was amazing!

Forget it.

Forget it.

It’s two hours of my life I’m never getting back.

It’s two hours of my life I’m never getting back.

Why don’t we get something to eat? Your pick.

Why don’t we get something to eat? Your pick.

How about we just go home? I’m pretty tired.

How about we just go home? I’m pretty tired.

Again, you heard many questions in the dialogue.

同样，您在对话里听到了很多问题。

Can you see what was different this time?

这次您可以找出哪些是不同的吗？

Before we tell you, think about a question.

在我们告诉您之前，考虑一个问题。

What does a question do?

提一个问题是做什么用的？

Most likely, you thought: “a question asks

最有可能的是，您认为：“一个问题

for information.”

询问信息。”

That’s sometimes true, but actually you can use questions to communicate many other

有时候是那样的，但是，实际上， 您能使用问题来沟通很多

ideas.

其他的想法。

In these cases, a question might not need an answer.

在这些事例里，一个问题也许 不需要一个回答。

For example, you can use questions to make a comment about something: Wasn’t it great?

例如，您可以使用问题来做一个关于 某些事情的评论：Wasn’t it great?

You can use questions to criticise someone or disagree with them: Are you insane?

您可以使用问题来批评某人或 反对他们：Are you insane？

You can use questions to make suggestions: Why don’t we get something to eat?

您可以使用问题来提出建议： Why don’t we get something to eat？

Can you remember the intonation in these questions?

您能记得这些句子里的语调吗？

To make a comment about something, use a falling tone:

做一个关于某些事情的评论， 使用一个降调：

Why would you say that? Doesn’t he look smart?

Why would you say that? Doesn’t he look smart?

Isn’t it delicious?

Isn’t it delicious?

To criticise someone, use a rising tone:

要批评某人，使用一个升调：

Have you lost your mind? Why would you do that?

Have you lost your mind? Why would you do that?

Are you really that stupid?

Are you really that stupid?

To make a suggestion, use a falling tone:

要提供建议，使用一个降调：

How about we just go home? Why don’t you call and ask what’s happening?

How about we just go home? Why don’t you call and ask what’s happening?

Remember that intonation is flexible, and that’s especially true here.

记住语调是灵活的， 那在这里尤其如此。

You can also make a suggestion with a rising tone:

您也能用一个升调提供建议：

How about we just go home?

How about we just go home?

Can you hear the difference?

Can you hear the difference?

How do you think it changes the meaning?

您认为那怎样改变了意思？

The suggestion with a rising tone sounds more like a real question, because it sounds more

有升调的建议听起来更像是一个 真正的问题，因为那听起来是

indirect and hesitant.

更直接的和更犹豫不决的。

The suggestion with a falling tone doesn’t sound so much like a question; it sounds more

有降调的建议听起来不太像 是一个问题，那听起来

confident and direct.

更自信和直接。

This brings us to our last point: you can use intonation to express many different emotions.

这是我们的最后一个重点：您可以 使用语调来表达很多不同的情感。

There’s one intonation pattern we haven’t talked about yet: rising-falling intonation.

有一个我们还没有谈及的语调结构： 升调转降调。

You can use this to express different feelings: positive or negative.

您可以用这个来表达不同的感情： 积极的或消极的。

Look at one word: You can use a rising-falling tone to sound

看一个单词：您可以使用一个升 调转降调来让讲的听起来是

excited: really?

兴奋的：really？

You can use it—slightly differently—to sound annoyed: really?

您可以使用它 — 略微不同地 — 来让讲的听起来是生气的：really？

You can use it to sound surprised: really?

您可以用它来让讲的听起来是吃惊的：really？

Can you hear the difference between these three?

您可以听出这三个之间的区别吗？

Listen once more: Really?

再听一遍： Really？

Really?

Really？

Really?

Really？

You use a rising-falling tone each time, but in a slightly different way.

您每次使用一个升调转降调，但是， 用一种略微不同的方式。

To sound excited or surprised, you start and finish higher, but to sound annoyed, the tones

要听起来兴奋或吃惊，您开始和结束 要语调高，但是，要听起来

are lower: really?

是生气的，语调要是更低的：really？

really?

really?

To sound surprised, you often make the rising tone longer: really?

要听起来是吃惊的，您通常要让升调 更长：really？

You can also use other tones to express some emotions.

您也能使用其他的语调来表达 一些情感。

For example, you can use a rising tone to express doubt: really?

例如，您可以使用一个升调来表达 怀疑：really？

You can use a falling tone to sound sarcastic: really?

您能使用一个降调来让讲的听 起来是讽刺的：really？

Let’s practice!

我们来练习一下。

You’ll hear the same question with five different kinds of intonation.

您会听到有五种不同语调的相同问题。

Which emotion am I expressing?

我在表达哪一种情绪？

Did you?

Did you?

Did you?

Did you?

Did you?

Did you?

Did you?

Did you?

Did you?

Did you?

Okay, we hope you learned something useful about English intonation.

好了，我们希望您学到一些有用的 英语语调的东西。

We have a question for you: is intonation in your language similar to English, or not?

我们有一个问题给您：您的语言 里的语调是与英语相似的吗？

Let us know in the comments, because we’re curious!

请在评论栏里告诉我们， 因为我们很好奇！

Remember that you can find more free English lessons on our website: Oxford Online English

记住您可以在我们的网站发现更 多的免费英语课程：

dot com.

Oxford Online English dot com.

Thanks for watching!

感谢观看！

See you next time!

下次见！