Functions of Intonation

The best way to start to speak about the main functions of intonation would be to ask ourselves what would be lost if we were to speak without intonation: we would have to imagine speech delivered in monotone, with every syllable said on the same level pitch, with no pauses and no changes in speed or loudness. Then it would be difficult for a listener to understand what a speaker is trying to convey.

According to R.Kingdon, “A foreigner who speaks a language with correct stressing and intonation but with incorrect sounds (within reasonable limits) will be better understood by natives than ones whose sounds are correct but whose stressing and intonation are poor.”

Intonation plays various functions. Among the most important are the following ones: