The stress in compound and polysyllabic words

THE RISING-FALLING TONE, ITS USAGE AND MODAL MEANING

Description: The Rise-Fall is a complex tone which consists of two elements: the rising and the falling. The voice first rises from a very low to a high pitch and then quickly falls to a very low pitch.

^Yes! ^Certainly!

Use: This tone is as definite as High Wide Fall but may suggest mockery, sarcasm, irony and impatience. It also expresses what may be called a quizzical feeling. That is why the Rise-Fall is often called a quizzical tone

The Rise-Fall preceded by a Gradually Descending Stepping Head may sound mocking, sarcastic, ironical, impressed, challenging, antagonistic, teasing or reproachful:

'Why are you 'telling ^me about it?

When preceded by a Low Level Head or an Ascending Head it may sound friendly and warning:

What 'else ^could I say?

With a High Level Head or a High Pre-Head, a Rise-Fall conveys admiration, astonishment, agitation:

It 'looks ^beautiful on you!

The Rise-Fall, whose basic function is purely expressive, can also be used to emphasize the meaning of the word:

– He knows two foreign languages.

– He 'knows ^more.