Pronunciation: intonation for

questioning
Introduction
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Lead-in

Intonation is the music of language.

We stress words that are important by using intonation.

When asking questions, we use intonation to get specific answers. Pointing words using

s-t-r-e-s-s will prompt the responder to address those key words in their answer.

So how do we achieve that?

Write your answers in the chat box now.

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Let’s focus

Intonation for questioning

Not only do we use rising and falling intonation at the end of a question, we can also use
intonation to emphasise the key words in a question. We can refine how we ask
questions to find an answer that we need.
Intonation in this language context can also be called inflection and stress.
Example: Do you think it is important to study English?
Any of the keywords could be stressed: you, think, is, important, study, English.
We may assume that the general question is about the importance of studying English,
but there may be more significant answers by emphasising other key words. We will
focus on intonation for questioning.

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Form
Consider the reason or purpose of a question.
Why are you asking the question? Knowing this will help you to ask the question in a
way that will meet your interest and purpose.
Are you interested in an individual’s (perhaps) unique opinion? Are you interested in a
generalised response? Are you interested in information relating to key facts?
Intonation and stress will help you to receive the information to meet your purpose and
interest.
What form does intonation take?
It can be volume (loudness, or quietness), rising or falling or partial falling in pitch,
speed (fast or slow), combined with pause, combined with rhythm.

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Meaning and use

When used in questioning, intonation establishes a connection in the responder which

they intuitively reply to. Stressing or emphasising key words and ideas will enact an
exchange of related and developing ideas.

Do you think it is important to study English?

The purpose might be to discover the reason for an individual’s motivation or lack of
motivation. The purpose might be to focus the responder on an awareness of study. The
purpose might be to determine if English is considered important to the responder. Or
even important at all!

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Practice
In Chat, write the number of the question and the number of ways you can ask the
question to determine different information by stressing different keywords.
E.g. Q1 - 6

1. How much time do you spend studying each week?

2. How did you find a new job?
3. What worked for you?
4. Did you write a letter?
5. What network did you use?

Then practise saying these questions on mute.

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Key point
When asking or responding to questions, intonation will guide
you to better answers.

Pronunciation tip:
Find the purpose of your question before you ask it. When answering a
question, find the purpose too.

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Pronunciation Checkout

Intonation in questions
1. Can you use intonation to emphasise words in a question?
2. Can you respond to words that have been emphasised in a
question?
3. Can you ask the same question using a variety of intonation?

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Pronunciation Checkout - Answers

Intonation in questions
1. Can you use intonation to emphasise words in a question? Yes
(Use key words and stress them)
2. Can you respond to words that have been emphasised in a
question? Yes (Listen to the keywords in the question and remember
to answer them)
3. Can you ask the same question using a variety of intonation? Yes
(Change the focus of the question by stressing different key words)

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What’s next?
Thank you for attending this pronunciation presentation.
Now you’re ready for…

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