XIV Международная студенческая научная конференция Студенческий научный форум - 2022

Intonation is the way of using the tunes when the words do not change their meaning but the tune we use adds something to the words, and what it adds is the speaker’s feelings at that moment. Intonation is a complex unity of speech melody (pitch), sentence-stress, voice quality (timbre), speech tempo, rhythm[1]. In this report we will provide some cases of using the tunes of statements and tag-questions with the examples from Downton Abbey - a British historical drama television series.

We will consider some of the cases of using the tunes of statements, namely:

1) Statements which show reservation on the part of the speaker and which might be followed by but, you must admit, I must admit.

2) Correction, contradiction

3) Warning

4) Being self-satisfied, smug, complacent

5) Surprise

Statements which show reservation on the part of the speaker and which might be followed by but, you must admit, I must admit.

Tune shape: Descending scale + FR.

Example: I’m just trying to be helpful. (Downton Abbey, Season 2, Episode 8, 13: 22)

Context: Mrs. Partmore reproaches Thomas that he always «Makes a mountain out of not being a servant”. Thomas is in a hurry to explain that this is not the case, and he just wants to help. However, the sincerity of his words can hardly be believed.

Correction, contradiction

Tune shape: Descending scale + FR.

Example: Well, no, no, he’s a good driver. (Downton Abbey, Season 2, Episode 8, 10:27).

Context: Dowager Countess acts as a kind of mediator in the quarrel between Sybil and Lord Grantham. She wants to resolve the situation peacefully and not offend anyone. When Sybil comes under so much pressure from her father, Dowager Countess wants to explain to Sybil calmly why the misalliance will not lead to anything good, but does not want to offend her, saying that she understands that Branson has many virtues. Now the Lord looks at her uncomprehendingly and accusingly, as if saying: "Whose side are you on?", Dowager Countess, not wanting to offend him too, corrects her answer, saying that she only meant that he, Branson is a good driver.

Warning

Tune shape: Descending scale + FR.

Example: Ah, well you’d best be off. (Downton Abbey, Season 2, Episode 6, 9:52).

Context: Mrs. Hughes tries to help Ethel but she is afraid someone might see them.

Being self-satisfied, smug, complacent

Tune shape: Descending Scale+ RF.

Example: I’m not sure how feminine I am. (Downton Abbey, Season 2, Episode 7, 10:35).

Context: Mary speaks out about new fashion for haircuts. Matthew expresses dissatisfaction with this fashion. Lavinia says she's not sure how feminine these hairstyles are. Mary responds with a smirk and complacency, definitely pleased with her witty answer.

Surprise

Tune shape: HR Wide/LR/FR, Descending Scale+ LR or HF (Descending Scale+ LR is used in this example).

Example: Isn’t that what you hoped? (Downton Abbey, Season 2, Episode 8, 1:56)

Context: Mr. Carson is quite surprised why Mrs. Hughes’ reaction to the letter is not particularly joyful.

Tag questions

A tag (or disjunctive) question is a very small one that follows a statement. The statement and the question form separate intonation groups [2].

We will consider two cases of using the tunes in tag questions, namely:

Where the word not occurs in either the statement or the tag question and you want the other person to agree with you.

Tune Shape: LF.

Example: I couldn’t accept Lavinia’s sacrifice of her life. Her children, her future, and then give her the brush off when I was well again, well, I couldn’t, could I? (Downton Abbey, Season 2, Episode 8, 20:23)

Context: Matthew is saying cousin Violet came to him and told him to marry Mary. He says Lavinia did a lot for him, was ready to do anything for him when he was ill, and he can't do this to her, hopes that Mary agrees with that.

Where the word not occurs in either the statement or the tag question and you want the other person to give his opinion.

Tune Shape: LR

Example: He’s a stout little chap, isn’t he? (Downton Abbey, Season 2, Episode 8, 32:05)

Context: Mrs. Hughes really likes the Ethel’s child, she wants to help her and her baby, she worries about how his grandparents will receive him, what they think about him.

In our report we have defined the concept of intonation, considered some cases of using the tunes in statements and tag-questions, and also analyzed examples from Downton Abbey to illustrate the theory.

Библиографический список

1) Практическая фонетика английского языка: продвинутый уровень: учебно-методическое пособие / С. П, Хорошилова ; Мин-во науки и образования РФ, Новосиб. гос. пед. ун-т. – Новосибирск : Изд-во НГПУ, 2015. – 300 с.

2) Фонетика английского языка: введение: учебно-методическое пособие по дисциплине "Практическая фонетика английского языка" для 1 курса фак. иностр. яз. : доп. УМО вузов РФ / С. П. Хорошилова, Т. Л. Бородина ; Новосиб. гос. пед. ун-т. - 2-е изд., перераб. и доп. - Новосибирск : НГПУ, 2014. - 146 с. - Библиогр.: с. 143.

3) Downton Abbey: TV-series / Michael Engler, Julian Fellowes; - United Kingdom: Carnival Film & Television, 2019.

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