Intonation in English - English Pronunciation Lesson

英文語調 — 英文發音課程

Hi, I’m Kae.

嗨，我是Kae。

Welcome to Oxford Online English!

歡迎來到Oxford Online English！

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

在本節課裡，您可以學到英文的語調。

How important is intonation?

語調有多麼重要？

Let’s see.

我們來看看。

Look at a sentence:

看一個例句：

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

那是一個簡單的問句，但是，通過 改變語調，您可以完全地

completely.

改變意思。

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

例如，那可以是一個簡單的問題， 您已經準備提供幫助：

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,

那可以是一個修辭性的問題，您並 非真正地認為那個人需要幫助，

but you want to be polite:

但是，您想表現得有禮貌。

Do you need some help?

Do you need some help?

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

那可以表明您對正在與您交談的 那個人生氣：

Do you need some help?

Do you need some help?

It can be sarcastic:

那可能是諷刺的：

Do you need some help?

Do you need some help?

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

那可能表明驚訝對方或許 需要您的幫助：

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.

您可以看到語調是一個 非常有用的工具。

Controlling your intonation is important for communication in spoken English.

控制您的語調對英文口說 溝通是重要的。

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

所以，我們從很初級的來開始： 語調實際上是什麼？

There are seven possible intonation patterns in English:

英文裡有七種可能的語調結構：

rising falling

升調 降調

rising-falling falling-rising

由升調轉為降調 由降調轉為升調

flat high

平調 高調

low

低調

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

最重要的是前四個：升調、 降調，以及升調和

tones.

降調的組合調。

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

平調，還有高調和低調， 是不常見的，並且使用不多。

so we won’t talk about them today.

所以，我們今天不會談論它們。

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

然而，升調和降調可以每個 都有很多不同的意思。

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

記住這個：一個語調結構不意味著 一件事情。

The same intonation can have different meanings in different situations.

相同的語調在不同的語境可以 有不同的意思。

Also, intonation is flexible.

同樣，語調是靈活的。

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

有規則，但是，規則不是百分 之一百固定的。

Different people speak in different styles.

不同的人用不同的風格講話。

Let’s practice!

我們來練習！

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

這裡是一個單字：我們試著 用不同的語調結構

intonation patterns.

來唸單字。

Repeat after me.

跟著我重複。

Rising: where?

升調：where?

Falling: where?

降調： where?

Rising-falling: where?

升調轉為降調：where?

Falling-rising: where?

降調轉為升調： where?

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

我們再試一次，用兩個單字：

How many?

How many?

Rising: how many Falling: how many?

升調： how many 降調：: how many?

Rising-falling: how many?

升調轉降調： how many?

Falling-rising: how many?

降調轉升調： how many?

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

如果您唸這四個語調結構，您 已經能用英文做大部分

you need in English.

您要做的事情了。

So, how do you use these intonation patterns?

所以，您怎麼使用這些語調結構？

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

最基本的規則是您使用降調來 表明句子結束了。

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.

您可以用一個升調來表明您的 句子還沒有結束。

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.

那是最基本的規則，那是重要的。

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

如果您沒有在正確的地方使用升調 或降調，人們不理解您

whether you’ve finished speaking or not.

是否結束了您的談話。

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

然而，有很多其他方式來使用這些 語調結構。

Let’s look at another.

我們看看另一個。

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?

您可以找出在那個對話裡發生了 什麼事情嗎？

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

在第一個問題之後：did you get some bread，您聽到了五個句子。

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

如果您需要，再聽一遍；您能 聽出語調嗎？

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

之前，您聽到您在句子的結尾使用 降調，但是，在這裡，結構

pattern is often the opposite:

經常是相反的：

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

這是我們關於語調的第二個規則： 您使用一個降調來表明資訊是

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

新的，您用一個升調來表明舊資訊。

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

在這個句子裡，Bread已經被 提及了，所以它是“舊”資訊，

and you pronounce it with a rising tone.

您使用一個升調來發音。

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

然而，您得到了一個降調的單字， 因為這在句子裡是新的資訊。

Let’s look at the next example:

我們來看下一個例子：

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.

在這裡，意思是一樣的。

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

Bread是"舊“資訊，所以， 您用一個升調發音。

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

Sandwiches是新的資訊；這是第一次 有人談及sandwiches。

New information gets a falling tone.

新資訊有一個降調。

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

在下一個句子，哪一個單字是”舊“ 資訊，哪一個是”新“資訊？

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

Sandwiches是”舊“資訊，因為我們 已經提到了它們。

So, pronounce sandwiches with a rising tone.

所以，用一個升調來唸sandwiches的音。

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

Bakery是”新“信息，因為這是 第一次有人

it.

提及它。

So, bakery has a falling tone.

所以，Bakery有一個降調。

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

在最後兩句，結構是相反的，但是， 想法是一樣的：

But, I think the bakery is closed on Saturdays.

但是，我認為麵包店在周六是關門的。

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.

在第一局，Bakery現在是”舊“資訊， 所以，它有一個升調。

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

”新“資訊，有降調，會出現在句尾。

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結構： ”舊”資訊 — Saturday —

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

先出現，以及”新“資訊 — Sunday — 在句尾。

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

如果您想做這個的更多練習， 回答對話。

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

在每一句之後暫停，並重複， 試著復讀語調。

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

注意當相同單字從新資訊變成 舊資訊時，它的語調

old information.

方式的改變。

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

現在，我們來看語調的一個非常 重要的用法：問題。

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.

在對話裡，您聽到了六個問題。

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

三個有升調，三個有降調。

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

您知道為什麼語調在不同的問題裡 是不同的嗎？

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

有時，當您在問一個問題，您對 答案沒有主意。

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

您要問問題來找出新的資訊。

In this case, the question has a falling tone:

在這裡，問題有一個降調：

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.

有時，當您問一個問題時，您已經 對回答有一些預料的想法了。

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

您在問一個問題來驗證某些事情， 或者確認您的想法是對的。

In this case, the question has a rising tone:

在這件事例，問題有一個升調：

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

Is that in Croatia? -->我認為杜布羅夫尼克 在克羅埃西亞，但是，我想要確認。

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

You got back yesterday, right? --> 我認為您昨天回來的，我在

confirming this with you.

和您確認這件事情。

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

Are you feeling tired? --> 您告訴我 您晚上很晚才回來，所以，

tired.

我猜您累了。

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

這意味著一個問題的語調可以 根據情形改變。

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

如果您使用一個降調，這會成為一個 要找到新資訊的問題。

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

則意味著您對杜布羅夫尼克是否 在克羅埃西亞真的沒主意，

to know.

您想知道。

You can ask:

您可以問：

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

如果您用升調來問這個，那可能 意味著您之前知道答案，

you just want a reminder.

您只是想要一個提醒。

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

您在驗證您已經知道的某些事情； 您不是在問一個完全是新的資訊。

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

使用這個語調會幫助您聽起來更 自然，但是，那不會

meaning of the question.

改變問題的意思。

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

然而，在有不同意思的問題裡有 很多其他的語調結構。

Let’s look!

我們來看看！

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.

同樣，您在對話裡聽到了很多問題。

Can you see what was different this time?

這次您可以找出哪些是不同的嗎？

Before we tell you, think about a question.

在我們告訴您之前，考慮一個問題。

What does a question do?

一個問題是做什麼用的？

Most likely, you thought: “a question asks

最有可能的是，您認為：“一個問題

for information.”

詢問資訊。”

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

有時候是那樣的，但是，實際上， 您能使用問題來溝通很多

ideas.

其他的想法。

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

在這些事例裡，一個問題也許 不需要一個回答。

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

例如，您可以使用問題來做一個關於 某些事情的評論：Wasn’t it great?

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

您可以使用問題來批評某人或 反對他們：Are you insane？

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

您可以使用問題來提出建議： Why don’t we get something to eat？

Can you remember the intonation in these questions?

您能記得這些句子裡的語調嗎？

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

做一個關於某些事情的評論， 使用一個降調：

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:

要批評某人，使用一個升調：

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:

要提供建議，使用一個降調：

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.

記住語調是靈活的， 那在這裡是尤其如此。

You can also make a suggestion with a rising tone:

您也能用一個升調提供建議：

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?

您認為那怎樣改變了意思？

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

有升調的建議聽起來更像是一個 真正的問題，因為那聽起來是

indirect and hesitant.

更直接的和更猶豫不決的。

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

有降調的建議聽起來不太像 是一個問題，那聽起來

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.

這是我們的最後一個重點：您可以 使用語調來表達很多不同的情感。

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

有一個我們還沒有談及的語調結構： 升調轉降調。

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

您可以用這個來表達不同的感情： 積極的或消極的。

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

看一個單字：您可以使用一個升 調轉降調來讓講的聽起來是

excited: really?

興奮的：really？

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

您可以使用它 — 略微不同地 — 來讓講的聽起來是生氣的：really？

You can use it to sound surprised: really?

您可以用它來讓講的聽起來是吃驚的：really？

Can you hear the difference between these three?

您可以聽出這三個之間的區別嗎？

Listen once more: Really?

再聽一遍： Really？

Really?

Really？

Really?

Really？

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

您每次使用一個升調轉降調，但是， 用一種略微不同的方式。

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

要聽起來興奮或吃驚，您開始和結束 要語調高，但是，要聽起來

are lower: really?

是生氣的，語調要是更低的：really？

really?

really?

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

要聽起來語調是吃驚的，您通常要讓升調 更長：really？

You can also use other tones to express some emotions.

您也能使用其他的語調來表達 一些情感。

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

例如，您可以使用一個升調來表達 懷疑：really？

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

您能使用一個降調來讓講的聽 起來是諷刺的：really？

Let’s practice!

我們來練習一下。

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

您會聽到有五種不同語調的相同問題。

Which emotion am I expressing?

我在表達哪一種情緒？

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，我們希望您學到一些有用的 英文語調的事情。

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

我們有一個問題給您：您的語言 裡的語調是與英文相似的嗎？

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

請在留言板裡告訴我們， 因為我們很好奇！

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

記住您可以在我們的網站發現更 多的免費英文課程：

dot com.

Oxford Online English dot com.

Thanks for watching!

感謝觀看！

See you next time!

下次見！