Questions and Intonation: Up or Down? -- American English Pronunciation

Did you go to the party? What did you bring to the party? Party - party. In this American

你參加那次聚會了嗎（↗）？

你帶什麼東西參加那次聚會（↘）？

聚會（↗）；聚會（↘）

在本段「美語發音」影片中

English pronunciation video, we're going to look at which questions go up in pitch at

我們要來看一下，哪種「疑問句」的尾音會上揚

the end, and which ones go down.

哪種「疑問句」會下降

The questions that go up in pitch at the end are yes/no questions. So, questions that start

尾音上揚的疑問句是「Yes/No 問句」

這類疑問句開頭的字，如 ：Did、Does、Is 及 Can

with words like did, does, is, and can. Questions that go down in pitch at the end are all other

尾音下降的疑問句則是「非 Y/N 問句的其他問句」

questions. So let's look at some yes/no questions. Did you pick up the groceries? Groceries?

我們來看一些 Yes/No 問句

你買雜貨了嗎？ （Did）

雜貨（↗）

你買雜貨了嗎？ 尾音上揚

Did you pick up the groceries? Going up in pitch at the end. Does the store open at one?

這家店一點鐘會營業嗎？ （Does）

One? One? Again, the pitch goes up at the end. Does the store open at one? Can you lend

One（↗）； One（↗）； 再次一樣，尾音上揚

這家店一點鐘會營業嗎？ （Does）

你能否借我一塊錢？ （Can）

me a dollar? Dollar? Dollar? Can you lend me a dollar?

Dollar（↗）； Dollar（↗）

你能否借我一塊錢？ （Can）

現在開始的問句，不能用 Yes 或 No 來回答

And now questions that can't be answered with a yes or no that go down in pitch at the end.

它的尾音會往下降

How are you? How are you? Why did you leave? Leave? Leave? Why did you leave? Where're

你好嗎？ （How）

你好嗎？ （How）

你當時為何離開？ （Why）

離開（↘）；離開（↘）

你當時為何離開？ （Why）

鑰匙呢？ （Where）

the keys? Keys? Keys? Where're the keys? Who are you calling? Calling? Calling? Who are

鑰匙（↘）；鑰匙（↘）

鑰匙呢？ （Where）

你在跟誰講電話？ （Who）

講電話（↘）； 講電話（↘）

你在跟誰講電話？ （Who）

you calling? Which one did you buy? Buy? Buy? Which one did you buy?

你買了哪一個？ （Which）

買（↘）、 買（↘）

你買了哪一個？ （Which）

我們把這 2 種問句擺在一起看

Let's look at pairs of questions. Can I borrow your book? Book? A yes/no question, going

我能否跟你借本書？ （Can）

書（↗），為 Yes/No 問句，語調上揚

up. Where's your book? Book? Book? Not a yes/no question, going down in pitch. Book? Book?

你的書呢？ （Where）

書（↘）；書（↘）

不是 Yes/No 問句，語調下降

書（↗）；書（↘）

我能否跟你借本書（↗）？ 你的書呢（↘）？

Can I borrow your book? Where's your book?

Did you go to the show? Show -- rising intonation for that yes/no question. How was the show?

你看過那場表演了嗎？ （Did）

表演（↗）

語調上揚，為 Yes/No 問句

那場表演如何？ （How）

那場表演如何？ （How）

How was the show? Falling intonation on a question that does not have a yes or no answer.

語調下降的問句，不以 Yes 或 No 回答

你看過那場表演了嗎（↗）？ 那場表演如何（↘）？

Did you go to the show? How was the show?

你見到 Amanda 了嗎？ （Did）

Did you see Amanda? Manda? Rising intonation. When did you see Amanda? Manda, manda -- falling

Manda（↗），上揚的語調

你何時見到 Amanda ？ （When）

Manda（↘）；Manda（↘），下降的語調

intonation. Did you see Amanda? When did you see Amanda?

你見到 Amanda 了嗎？ 你何時見到 Amanda？

不要忘記這個簡單規則：

Don't forget this simple rule. Yes/no question, intonation goes up. Any other question, intonation

Yes/No問句，語調上揚；其他問句，語調下降

goes down.

就這樣，非常感謝使用 Rachel 的英文

That's it, and thanks so much for using Rachel's English.