1. Falling Intonation: This is the most common intonation pattern, used for statements, commands, and wh-questions. The voice starts at a higher pitch and drops down at the end.
* Example: "I like pizza." (Statement)
* Example: "Please close the door." (Command)
* Example: "Where did you go?" (Wh-question)
2. Rising Intonation: This pattern is typically used for yes/no questions, lists, and tag questions. The voice starts at a lower pitch and rises at the end.
* Example: "Do you like pizza?" (Yes/no question)
* Example: "We have apples, oranges, and bananas." (List)
* Example: "It's a nice day, isn't it?" (Tag question)
3. Level Intonation: This pattern maintains a fairly constant pitch throughout the phrase, often used for neutral or bored tone.
* Example: "I'm fine, thank you." (Neutral statement)
4. Falling-Rising Intonation: This is a combination of falling and rising patterns. It's common in situations where the speaker is expressing a question, surprise, or a degree of uncertainty.
* Example: "You're going?" (Surprise)
* Example: "You want to go?" (Uncertainty)
Other types of intonation:
* High Rising Intonation: Used in some dialects for statements, and can sometimes sound overly enthusiastic.
* Low Rising Intonation: Can convey a feeling of uncertainty or hesitancy.
Intonation is a complex aspect of language and can be influenced by factors like regional dialect, individual speech patterns, and the speaker's intentions.