Initial Parentheses

Parenthetical words and phrases at the beginning of an utterance are used for various purposes:

a) in order to gain time while,the speaker is framing the main remark of his utterance or to call the listener's attention to what is going to follow. B) to show the speaker's attitude towards the subject matter., supposition, certainty, satisfaction, regret, etc. E. g.: Unfortu­nately, Charles doesn't know about it.

Initial parentheses often_form a separate intonation-group which possesses all the typical characteristics of a non-final group:, the choice of the nuclear tone in it is determined by the degree of se­mantic independence and importance attached to the parenthesis. A common pattern for an initial parenthetical phrase is a Low Rising nuclear tone preceded by a normal (or high) prehead and high head (if there is any):

As far as 1 know, his daughter has a beautiful voice.

Parentheses pronounced with a Falling nuclear tone sound weighty and make the whole utterance more important:

By the way, I.heard you were thinking of going abroad this summer.

Additional emphasis or contrast is added to the parenthetical phrase by a Falling-Rising nuclear tone:

Personally I've always wanted to be a farmer.

Initial parentheses which are linked very closely with the main remark do not, as a rule, form a separate intonation-group. This is a common pattern for parenthetical clauses such as «/ suppose.... believe...,presume..., I'm afraid..., I think...», etc. They may be unstressed or partially stressed and then form the prehead of a tune, or they may have a full stress which becomes part of the head:

I think 'that's my niece at the door.

I 'hope things will soon improve.

Short parentheses such as "well, now, but, oh, surely, probably, certainly, of course " frequently follow this pattern. They are unstressed or stressed according to the degree of importance attached to them: Of 'course it's a splendid idea.

Well, 'let's ask the others.

Final Parentheses

Parentheses at the end of an utterance serve to summarize or add some details to the speaker's main remark.They do not, as a rule, form an intonation-group of their own and are pronounced as unstressed or partially stressed pos t nuclear syllables (tail).

I'm not good at languages, you know.

Peter and his wife know him, of course.

Additional prominence is achieved when parentheses in final position are said as part of the nucleus of a falling-rising tune (divided):

Your hotel was near the station, I hope.

Parentheses in the middle of an utterance

Parentheses inserted in the middle of the principal remark usually convey a side-thought, which the speaker wishes to communicate at once without waiting until he has finished his utterance. Parentheses are commonly inserted between two intonation-groups, in which case these intonation-groups remain unchanged while the parenthesis forms an intonation group of its own and is pronounced on a lower-pitch and at a quicker tempo than the main remark

Her Mum and Dad, as, far as I know, had planned to send her to University.

A parenthesis_may join the first intonation-group as a tail or as part of the nucleus:

This,variant, at least, can be accepted.

21. Initial Reporting Phrases

Initial Reporting phrases generally form n separate intonation-group. The most frequent nuclear tone of this groups in conversation is Mid Level: the nuclear syllable is pronounced on steady [unmovin g ] pitch about the middle of the voicerange

and is prolonged in its duration as compared with a prenuclear syllable carrying a static tone. It shows that the intonation-group is semantically incomplete and leads on to the more important part of the utterance. There is usually a short pause between the Reporting phrase and the beginning of the Quoted speech and the first fully stressed syllable of the latter is said on a rather higher pitch than the nucleus of the Reporting phrase. This serves to give the necessary prominence to the Quoted speech:

'Anthony > answered: \ "I've been 'looking for a 'man like _vyou".

In reading aloud the most common pattern for initial Reporting phrases is the L o w Rise. Like the Mid-Level tone it shows that the Reporting phrase is semantically incomplete without the following Quoted speech. At the same time the division of the utterance into two intonation-groups and the pause between them are more distinct, which is often desirable in reading aloud and unnecessary in conversation:

Fall-Rise Divided is used instead of the Low Rise when the Reporting phrase contains a word contrasted in meaning with another word (in the given context):

The 'younger 'boy said: \ "The 'film is boring".

The older one objected: \ "Why, \ I've enjoyed it".

The Falling nuclear tone (High or Low) can be used on a Reporting phrase when it is semantically and grammatically complete in itself and requires greater prominence. This situation may occur in reading aloud but hardly at all in real conversation:

His 'cousin repeated his question: \ "'Who told you that?"

22 Final Reporting Phrases

In the final position the Reporting phrase usually forms the tail of the tune of the Quoted speech. Its pitch-pattern, therefore, is determined by the nuclear tone of the Quoted speech. After Rising and Falling-Rising nuclear tones the Reporting phrase is rising, and it is pronounced on a low pitch after a Falling tone:

"'Are you in a hurry?" she 'asks.

“If you like”, says he.

“What is it?” I asked.

The Reporting phrase may form part of an expanded nucleus of a Fall-Rise Divided Tune. The important word of the Reporting phrase then carries the rise of the Falling-Rising tone. This intonation pattern is commonly used to express contrast:

"I have 'seven English stamps", says,Nick.

"I have 'more than you", says Alec.

When the final Reporting phrase is long, it may form a separate into nation-group similar in its nuclear tone to the pattern of the Quoted speech but lower in pitch:

"'Must I' stick it on myself? " asked a lady, |who bought a |postage stamp. "No, madam", replied the,counter-clerk, | "it's 'much 'better to 'stick it on the envelope".

23. Intonation of Reporting Phrases in Reported Speech

In Reported speech the Reporting phrase generally forms the first (non-final) intonation-group of an utterance while the main remark (grammatically transformed quoted speech) forms the following group. Like all non-final groups, Reporting phrases m ay take various nuclear tones: low rising, falling-rising, falling.

I want to ask you if you would like to join us.

I’d like to know, why he is here.

A Reporting phrase may not form an intonation-group and then the first word of it, important enough to take a full stress, becomes the head of the whole utterance, or otherwise it is pronounced as its p r e h e a d (unstressed or partially stressed):

I wonder if they know about our decision.

He says he never does it alone.

24. Initial Direct Address

Direct Address is placed at the beginning of an utterance when the speaker wants to call his listener's attention to the subject-matter or to the fact that the remark concerns him (the listener) personally. It usually forms a separate intonation-group which may be pronounced with any of the nuclear tones. The choice of the tone does not depend on the communicative type of the utterance but is determined by the speaker's attitude to the situation. The Falling tone on a Direct Address shows the speaker's serious attitude to what he is going to say:

John,| I 'want you to 'tell me what happened.

Peter, | 'are you 'ready with your report?

This pattern, therefore, is suitable in addressing an audience at the beginning of a formal speech:

'Ladies and Gentlemen, | let me...

The Falling-Rising tone is normally used on an initial Direct Address in informal conversation to convey the speaker's warm and friendly attitude:

^vKitty, \ 'why 'aren't you eating |anything?

^vHarry, \ 'will you 'help me with the vacuum-cleaner?

This tone may sometimes suggest a warning or a wish to single out the person named from a number of others:

^vMary,| 'join your younger 'sister in the dining-room. 'Let 'Mike 'do his 'homework alone.

Direct Address at the beginning of an informal speech can also be pronounced with a Low Rising tone:

My friends, I am 'happy to meet you here tonight.

25 Final and Medial Direct Address

Direct Address placed at the end of an utterance does not serve to attract the listener's attention. It is added simply as an expression of politeness, affection or criticism. It is, therefore, either unstressed or only partially stressed and forms the tail of a tune:

'Can you 'post these /letters for me, 'Brian?

Of course, |father.

'What's worrying you,, Catherine?

Oh, 'nothing ^vserious, 'mum.

Final Direct Address may become part of a Falling-Rising Divided nucleus. When this intonation pattern is used the utterance sounds warmer and the address is more prominent

You 'look 'very Mired, Jane.

Direct Address placed in the middle of an utterance is pronounced in the same way as final address.

I 'don't mean to say, |Jack, | that it's your fault.

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