intonation
Speech pitch pattern
Intonation is the rise and fall of pitch in speech, the musical quality that helps convey meaning beyond the words themselves.
A rising intonation at the end of a sentence typically signals a question, while falling intonation suggests a statement.
Her intonation made it clear she was being sarcastic.
In music, intonation refers to accuracy of pitch—a singer with poor intonation drifts sharp or flat.
The word also applies to the act of chanting or intoning, especially in religious contexts.
Rhythmic pulse or pattern
- stress patternSyllable emphasis arrangement
- rhythmPatterned stress and silence
- inflectionWord form alteration
- modulationVarying signals to transmit
accentuation · contour · utterance · phrasing · focus · prominence
Science of language sounds
- phoneticsStudy of speech sounds
- tone languageLanguage using pitch distinctively
- tonalRelating to pitch
- pragmaticsLanguage-in-context study
discourse · utterance · syntax · semantics · morpheme · interrogative · declarative · imperative
Sound's distinctive character
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- pitchFrequency of sound
- registerRecord officially; vocal range
- falsettoArtificially elevated singing register
head voice · chest voice · vocal fry · creaky · breathy · nasal · clarity · warmth
Frequency of sound
- scaleMeasure of relative size
- melodyPleasing sequence of notes
- intervalDuration between two points
- vibratoOscillating pitch effect
register · octave · semitone · sharp · flat · chromatic · glissando · portamento
Act of ascending
- uptalkStatement-ending pitch rise
- interrogativeAsking in nature
- yes-noLimited to two responses
- confirmationEstablishing something as true
inquiry · rhetorical · question mark · doubt · curiosity · seeking
Unhurried, elongated speech pattern
- liltRhythmic speech quality
- singsongRhythmically monotonous speech
- monotoneSingle unvarying pitch
- flatLacking vertical variation
animated · expressive · measured · clipped · lilting · melodic · staccato · legato
Irony used to mock
- enthusiasmIntense eager enjoyment
- boredomWeary disinterest from monotony
- condescensionDemeaning air of superiority
- sincerityHonest, unfeigned genuineness
irony · indifference · affection · aggression · amusement · annoyance · contempt · disbelief
cadence
Rhythmic pulse or pattern
- stress patternSyllable emphasis arrangement
- rhythmPatterned stress and silence
- inflectionWord form alteration
modulation · accentuation · contour · utterance · phrasing · focus · prominence
phonology
Science of language sounds
- phoneticsStudy of speech sounds
- tone languageLanguage using pitch distinctively
- tonalRelating to pitch
pragmatics · discourse · utterance · syntax · semantics · morpheme · interrogative · declarative · imperative · exclamatory
timbre
Sound's distinctive character
- resonanceAmplified oscillation at natural frequency
- pitchFrequency of sound
- registerRecord officially; vocal range
falsetto · head voice · chest voice · vocal fry · creaky · breathy · nasal · clarity · warmth · brightness
pitch
Frequency of sound
vibrato · register · octave · semitone · sharp · flat · chromatic · glissando · portamento · microtonal
rising
Act of ascending
- uptalkStatement-ending pitch rise
- interrogativeAsking in nature
- yes-noLimited to two responses
confirmation · inquiry · rhetorical · question mark · doubt · curiosity · seeking
drawl
Unhurried, elongated speech pattern
flat · animated · expressive · measured · clipped · lilting · melodic · staccato · legato · flowing
sarcasm
Irony used to mock
- enthusiasmIntense eager enjoyment
- boredomWeary disinterest from monotony
- condescensionDemeaning air of superiority
sincerity · irony · indifference · affection · aggression · amusement · annoyance · contempt · disbelief · eagerness
- Speech Practicearticulation, enunciation, pronunciation drills, pronunciation practice, tongue twisters
- communicationtelephone, conversation, inform, hand signal, messages
- languagelanguage, word, words, grammar, spelling
- speechspeech, speaking, talk, diction, conversation
- expressionexpress, convey, communicate, verbal, nonverbal
- Guitarelectric guitar, acoustic guitar, classical guitar, guitar string, guitar strap
intonationmonotone
Single unvarying pitch
flatness · monotony · droning · expressionlessness · deadpan delivery
intonationdeadpan
Expressionless, especially for humor
concealment · affectlessness · suppression · withholding · inscrutability