Speaking: Pronunciation B1
Intonation Patterns for Expressing Emotions
Saying More Than Words 🎭
How you say something is often more important than the words you use. Your intonation—the "music" of your voice—shows your true feelings. Using emotional intonation makes you an active, engaging communicator.
A flat, low-energy "wow" sounds sarcastic or like you don't care.
A "Wow!" that starts with a high pitch and falls quickly sounds genuinely impressed.
Three Key Emotional Patterns
Let's learn how to use intonation to show how you feel. The arrows show how your voice should move.
To encourage someone to keep talking, use a rising intonation. This shows you want to hear more.
- A: I bought a new moto. B: Oh, really?↗
- A: My brother is visiting me this weekend. B: He is?↗ That's nice!
For big, unexpected news, start your voice high and let it fall quickly. This shows strong emotion.
- A: I won a free trip to Japan! B: Wow!↘ That's amazing!
- A: They cancelled the concert. B: Oh, no!↘ You're kidding!
If you're not sure you believe someone, your voice can fall and then rise a little at the end.
- A: I can speak five languages. B: Really?↘︎↗
Why This Matters
💡 Reacting in a Conversation
Using these emotional reactions is a key part of active listening. When your partner says something, especially if it's personal news, they expect a reaction. A simple "Wow!" or "Really?" shows that you are listening and engaged. A silent response can feel cold or rude.
Practice Your Intonation 🎯
Activity 1: What's the Feeling?
Listen to the audio. You will hear "Really?" with three different intonation patterns. Identify the emotion for each one.
- "Really?↗" → (Emotion: Interest)
- "Really?↘︎↗" → (Emotion: Doubt)
- "Really!↘" → (Emotion: Surprise - with a high fall)
Activity 2: Say it with Feeling!
Work with a partner. Read the mini-dialogues and say a response with the emotion in parentheses.
- A: My sister is getting married next month!
B (Surprise): _________________ (e.g., Wow! / No way!) - A: I think I'll quit my job and become a singer.
B (Doubt): _________________ (e.g., Really?) - A: I'm thinking about studying architecture in Battambang.
B (Interest): _________________ (e.g., Oh, really? That's interesting.)
Key Vocabulary & Phrases
- Intonation The "music" of the voice as it rises and falls when speaking.
- Pitch How high or low the voice is.
- Interest / Surprise / Doubt
- Wow! / No way!Exclamations to show strong surprise.
- Really? / You're kidding!Phrases to show surprise or disbelief.
Your Pronunciation Mission ⭐
This week, your mission is to listen for and use emotional intonation.
- Watch a short scene from an English movie. Listen carefully to how the actors' voices rise and fall when they are surprised or interested.
- In your next English conversation, when a friend tells you something interesting, respond with an energetic "Really?↗" or "Wow!↘".