Intonation and Tones

/What? You lost my /money?

The high rise begins higher than the normal rising tone, goes into the higher part of the normal speaking range, and ends much higher than the normal rising tone. Depending on the emotion expressed, the high rise may even go beyond the upper boundary of the normal speaking range.

Depending on the situation, the high rise may also indicate astonishment, indignation, anger, and so on. Because the high rise is emphatic, very expressive and may indicate various emotions, it is advisable for language learners to limit the use of this tone in speech.

Mid-level rise

The mid-level rise is used mostly in informal American speech, for example, in direct address, in introductory phrases, in subordinate clauses at the beginning of the sentence.

The mid-level rise begins at mid level (or a little higher) and immediately goes up (not too high) – without first going down a little as the ordinary rising tone does. Example: Mrs. /Smith, this is \Annie, my \niece.

Low rise

The low rise may be used in a group of words added (as direct address, as a suggestion, for politeness, etc.) at the end of the sentence after the final fall. The low rise begins and ends lower than the ordinary rising tone.

The low rise generally signals the speaker's polite interest and his readiness to continue the conversation. Examples: Good to \see you, /Alan. You can stay \here, if you /like.