Oral English: stress and intonation on rising and falling tones. - SS1 English Lesson Note

Oral English: stress and intonation on rising and falling tones. 

Stress is the emphasis placed on certain syllables in a word or sentence. Stressed syllables are louder and longer than unstressed syllables.

Intonation is the rise and fall of the voice when speaking. It can be used to convey different emotions, such as surprise, anger, or sadness.

In English, there are two basic intonation patterns: rising and falling.

Rising intonation is used to ask questions, make requests, or express uncertainty.

Falling intonation is used to make statements, give commands, or express certainty.

Here are some examples of how stress and intonation can be used to change the meaning of a sentence: 

Sentence: I went to the store.

With stress on "went": I went to the store. (This means that you went to the store, and not someone else.)

With stress on "store": I went to the store. (This means that you went to a specific store, and not just any store.)

With rising intonation: I went to the store? (This means that you are asking a question.)

With falling intonation: I went to the store. (This means that you are making a statement.)

It is important to use stress and intonation correctly in order to communicate effectively in English. If you are not sure how to use stress and intonation, there are many resources available to help you, such as online tutorials, books, and classes.

Here are some additional tips for using stress and intonation effectively in English:

• Pay attention to the way that native speakers use stress and intonation. Listen to how they emphasize different syllables and how their voice rises and falls.

Practice using stress and intonation in your own speech. Record yourself speaking and listen back to see how you can improve.

Get feedback from a native speaker. Ask a friend, teacher, or tutor to listen to you speak and give you feedback on your use of stress and intonation.