intonation pattern
1
5.6
- noun
- /ˌɪntəˈneɪʃən ˈpætərn/
- Specialized
:
patrón de entonación
- In learning a new language, mastering the intonation patterns is essential for being understood.
Examples
-
The theater students get experience with different accents, and the international students learn techniques like breath control and intonation patterns.
Academic text (2016) -
The teacher explained that intonation patterns can change the meaning of a sentence, especially in questions.
-
Students practiced their intonation patterns to improve their speaking skills in English.
Synonyms
12
5.9
How the voice changes in pitch or tone when speaking
7
4.6
The rise and fall of voice when speaking that shows meaning or feeling
2
6.3
A change in voice pitch or loudness to show feeling
The way a voice or a tune goes up and down in sound
Antonyms
How Distinct
- Specialized
1
5.6
1
5.6
Surface Forms
Morphology
The meaning is directly derivable from the constituents: 'intonation' (pitch changes in speech) combined with 'pattern' (a characteristic or recurring arrangement) yields the characteristic rise-and-fall in pitch. This straightforward compositional structure is common across languages and follows a regular noun + noun pattern, so a B1 learner who knows both words will readily understand the MWE.
Etymology
Intonation pattern is like a small tune in your voice that goes up and down. Here intonation means the rise and fall and pattern means the usual shape, and this 'tune' helps listeners know if you mean a 'question', a 'statement', or a 'request'.