Forum newsfeeds
Forum Newsfeeds


Sites for Teachers

Sites for Teachers


Go Back   UsingEnglish.com ESL Forum > Learning English > Ask a Teacher

Notices

Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1 (permalink)  
Old 29-Jul-2007, 20:49
Newbie
 
Join Date: May 2007
Country: UK
Posts: 8
Current Location: London
First Language: English
Thanks: 0
Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts
scaredofgrammar is on a distinguished road
Default intonation to show sympathy

Hi there
Just wanted to check what others thought about varying intonation to show sympathy.
In the sentence: 'Oh dear, you poor thing' Is there falling intonation (on dear, poor, thing) or perhaps rise and fall on 'oh dear'??

Does this transfer to other sympathetic utterances? In general, is the rising intonation less sincere/unsympathetic in this case?
Please help! The more I say it to myself, the less I can hear the difference!!

Thanks in advance
Reply With Quote
Sponsored Links
  #2 (permalink)  
Old 29-Jul-2007, 21:14
RonBee's Avatar
Moderator
 
Join Date: Feb 2003
Country: USA
Posts: 13,057
Current Location: North Carolina
First Language: English
Thanks: 58
Thanked 684 Times in 616 Posts
RonBee is a splendid one to beholdRonBee is a splendid one to beholdRonBee is a splendid one to beholdRonBee is a splendid one to beholdRonBee is a splendid one to beholdRonBee is a splendid one to behold
Default Re: intonation to show sympathy

My two cents.
Oh dear! You poor thing!
The voice rises on dear and thing.

~R
Reply With Quote
Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools
Display Modes

Posting Rules
You may post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On

Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Relationship between pronunciation and intonation carrottop Ask a Teacher 3 03-Nov-2006 08:34
The Daily English Show - an internet video show for studying English thedailyenglishshow General Language Discussions 0 30-Mar-2006 14:39
one-woman show wml General Language Discussions 2 08-Feb-2006 03:54
More on English intonation Anonymous Ask a Teacher 3 20-Nov-2003 14:54
English intonation Anonymous Ask a Teacher 9 19-Nov-2003 11:59


New To Site? Need Help?

All times are GMT. The time now is 06:25.


vBulletin, Copyright ©2000 - 2008, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.
Search Engine Optimization by vBSEO 3.2.0 RC5
Copyright © 2002 - 2008 UsingEnglish.com