🎭 Speaking: Pronunciation B2 - Lesson 2: Using Intonation to Convey Attitude
Welcome! At the B2 level, we know that *what* you say is important, but *how* you say it can change the entire meaning. Today, we'll focus on intonation1—the "music" of your voice. By changing your intonation, you can express your true attitude2, such as basic sarcasm3 or doubt4.
Scenario: The Same Words, Different Meanings
Listen to this dialogue. A manager is speaking to an employee, Chantha. Chantha says the exact same words, "Oh, great," but his intonation completely changes his meaning.
Manager: "Chantha, I have good news. I'm giving you a bonus for your hard work!"
Chantha (Genuine Enthusiasm): "Oh, great!" (His voice pitch5 starts high and falls quickly. It sounds happy and excited.)
Manager: "Chantha, I have more work for you. You need to work this Saturday."
Chantha (Sarcasm): "Oh... greaaat." (His voice is low, slow, and flat. It shows he is not happy at all. He means the opposite of "great".)
Manager: "Chantha, our new plan will double our sales. Do you agree?"
Chantha (Doubt): "Yes, I'm... sure...?" (His voice goes up at the end, as if asking a question. It shows he doesn't really believe the plan will work.)
How to Signal Sarcasm
Sarcasm is saying the opposite of what you feel, often to be funny or to complain. The "music" is the key.
- The Pattern: Slow down the key word and use a low, flat, or falling pitch. It often sounds a bit "dead" or emotionless, which contrasts with the positive word being used.
- Example: Someone gives you a huge pile of boring paperwork.
- You say: "This looks like fun."
- Sarcastic intonation: You say "fuuun" very slowly, and your voice pitch is low and flat. (fuuun ➘)
How to Signal Doubt or Uncertainty
When you are not convinced something is true or will happen, your intonation makes your statement sound like a question.
- The Pattern: Use a rising, or fall-rising, intonation at the end of your statement. Your voice goes up as if you are asking "Really?".
- Example: Your friend says he can fix your broken computer in five minutes.
- You say: "You can fix it."
- Doubtful intonation: Your voice rises at the end of the sentence. "You can fix it...? (fix it ➚)" This shows you don't really believe him.
💡 Listen & Compare: Attitude Check
Imagine hearing these sentences. How does the intonation change the meaning?
Sentence 1: "That's a wonderful idea."
- Version A (Enthusiastic): Said with a high, falling pitch. (Sounds sincere and happy).
- Version B (Sarcastic): Said slowly, with a low, flat pitch. (Sounds like it's a terrible idea).
Sentence 2: "He finished the report."
- Version A (Confident): Said with a clear, falling pitch. (States a fact).
- Version B (Doubtful): Said with a rising pitch at the end. (Sounds like you don't believe he really finished it).
🧠 Practice Quiz: What's the Attitude?
Read the description of the intonation and choose the most likely attitude.
1. Your colleague tells you, "Don't worry, the project will be easy." He says "easy" with a rising pitch, making it sound like "easy?". What is his real attitude?
A) He is certain it will be easy.
B) He is showing doubt; he thinks it will be difficult.
C) He is excited to start.
→ Answer: B. The rising intonation on a statement signals doubt or a question.
2. It's raining heavily outside, and you have to walk home. Your friend looks out the window and says, "Lovely weather." very slowly and with a flat, low voice. What does she mean?
A) She is showing sarcasm; she means the weather is terrible.
B) She genuinely loves the rain.
C) She is asking a question about the weather.
→ Answer: A. The slow speed and low pitch on a positive phrase like "lovely weather" is a classic sign of sarcasm.
📝 Your Mission: Become an Intonation Actor
Your mission is to practice controlling the "music" of your voice.
- Choose one simple sentence, for example: "That was very clever."
- Practice saying it out loud in three distinct ways:
- Genuinely: With a happy, sincere, falling intonation to praise someone.
- Sarcastically: Slowly, with a low, flat intonation, as if they did something very stupid.
- Doubtfully: With a rising intonation at the end, as if you don't really believe it was clever.
- Record yourself on your phone and listen back. Can you hear the difference in attitude clearly? This practice trains your ear and your voice.
Vocabulary Glossary
- Intonation: (Noun) - សំនៀង (sɑmniiəng) - The way a speaker's voice rises and falls, which can change the meaning of a sentence. ↩
- Attitude: (Noun) - ឥរិយាបថ (iriyabot) / ท่าที (thaathii) - Your feelings or opinions about someone or something. ↩
- Sarcasm: (Noun) - ការនិយាយបែបចំអក (kaa ni'yiiay baep cɑm'ɑk) - The use of words to mean the opposite of what you say, to be funny or to criticize. ↩
- Doubt: (Noun) - ความสงสัย (khwaam sŏngsăi) / ការសង្ស័យ (kaa sɑngsay) - A feeling of not being certain about something. ↩
- Pitch: (Noun) - កម្រិតសំឡេង (kɑm'rət sɑm'leeng) - The degree of highness or lowness of a tone or sound. ↩