Example of Rising-Falling Intonation Introduced by Interrogative
Scenario: You are at a party and someone asks you if you want a drink.
Dialogue:
* Person: "Would you like a drink?"
* Intonation: Rising on "Would" and "like", then falling on "drink".
The rising intonation on "Would" and "like" indicates that the speaker is asking a question. The falling intonation on "drink" signals the end of the question and creates a sense of finality.
This rising-falling intonation pattern is common in English interrogatives, especially when the speaker is expecting a yes/no answer. It conveys a tone of politeness and invites the listener to engage in conversation.
Other examples:
* "Are you going to the movies tonight?" (Rising on "Are" and "going", falling on "tonight")
* "Did you finish your homework?" (Rising on "Did" and "finish", falling on "homework")
* "Can you help me with this?" (Rising on "Can" and "help", falling on "this")
It's important to note that intonation can vary depending on the context and the speaker's intention. However, the rising-falling pattern is a common characteristic of interrogatives in English.