answersLogoWhite

0

ENGLISH LANGUAGE SPEAKING

The pitch is the level of the sound frequency at which the word(s) are spoken. Speaking at a higher pitch conveys excitement, even nervousness perhaps, whereas lower pitches convey calmness and can indicate confidence and certainty.

An inflection is a change in the pitch. For example, an upward inflection is common at the end of a question e.g. You might ask a friend who is visiting you: "Hungry?"

Different inflections convey different meanings. Saying "Really?" with a downward inflection at the end implies doubt and suspicion, but with an upward inflection it conveys surprise and interest.

Consider the many ways you could say 'Really'. e.g. bored, or very surprised, or with deep sympathy, etc. the various meanings being communicated just by appropriate inflection.

Inflections are used throughout speech. Without inflection all words will sound inhuman, mechanical and flat, and true meaning will be absent.

POWER, PACE, PITCH and INFLECTION

Test Yourself: How could you start to tell this story:

  • "Once upon a time, there were three bears!"
Notice the natural change in pitch and inflectionwhen you say 'a time' in that sentence, and how you increased your power(volume) when you said bears!

And doubtless you could make it even more exciting, simply by just varying the power, the pace, the pitch and the inflections!

Yet, in some quarters--specifically in English Grammar--"inflection" is defined as the modification of a word to express different grammatical categories such as tense, mood, voice, aspect, person, number, gender and case..which, admittedly, can be confusing.

Consistent with the definition on this page...As a dialectician, I will add that different dialects within a given language-e.g., Irish, Standard American and Texan, will feature different pronunciation, word choice, inflection patterns, emphasis, rhythm and varying syntax (the characteristic way sentences are assembled).

User Avatar

Wiki User

10y ago

What else can I help you with?

Related Questions

What are the three inflections in poetry?

Simple inflection Compound inflection Level pitch(absence of inflection)


Change in tone or pitch is called?

Inflection


What does 'vocal inflection' mean?

Vocal Inflection helps with voice acting such as radio commercials and voice overs. Vocal Inflection as 4 parts: Tempo, Quality, Pitch, and Volume.


What is a voice inflection?

Voice inflection is the variation in pitch, tone, and emphasis that we use when speaking to convey different meanings or emotions. It can alter the interpretation of a statement and give clues about the speaker's feelings or intentions.


What is the difference between pitch and internal in music?

In music, the pitch refers to how high or low a note may be. An interval refers to the difference between two pitches.


What is it called when your voice fluctuates in pitch while singing?

When your voice fluctuates in pitch while singing, it is called vocal modulation or vocal inflection.


What is the difference between a baseball pitch and softball pitch?

Baseball is a over-handed pitch. Softball is a under-handed pitch


How do you use inflection in a sentence?

Inflection refers to changing the pitch or tone of your voice to convey meaning. In a sentence, you can use inflection to emphasize certain words or convey different emotions such as excitement, surprise, or emphasis. This can help to clarify your intended meaning and make your communication more engaging.


An example of what is monotony?

Monotony is a lack of variation in pitch, intonation, or inflection in speech, or tedious sameness or repetitiousness.


How many tones are there in a Monotone?

A monotone has only one tone, which means there is no variation in pitch or inflection.


What is the natural inflection of your voice when speaking in public"?

The natural inflection of your voice when speaking in public refers to the tone, pitch, and emphasis you naturally use when addressing an audience. It can convey your emotions, intentions, and engage listeners.


Are pitch and stress two kinds of inflection?

Pitch is how high or low a sound goes; what tone it has. Stress is where the emphasis is in a word. So yes, both are type of inflection. They're variances in the way you shape words.