*Haider Ali (12541) * Hafiz Bilal (14999)
****BS English Literature and Language, Department of English, Riphah International University Faisalabad.
Abstract:
The falling intonation pattern is used for when speakers are giving information or making observations. Secondly, the speaker is used for asking information questions. The purpose of this study is to compare the falling intonation pattern of urban and rural language learners of Faisalabad, and then compared with the British accent. In this research, the data collected from the strata of the urban and rural learners of Faisalabad region. Each stratum has a total 10 participants and total participants are 25 in which five are British Language Learners sampling. Learners ranging in age from 13-18 years old from higher secondary school. The data has been analyzed by mobile phone receiver and then recordings are put into Wave Surfer to get the pitch of the falling intonation. The results show that the falling intonation patterns of the learners are not similar, the learners pronounce without giving any tone expression. On the other hand, learners’ dialects are not different in many cases. But, Language learners lower their intonation when they ask a question or give an invitation to someone. Furthermore, Data is analyzed with British Language Learners to find out the similarities and differences between Faisalabadi Language Learners.This study revealed the speaking skills of Faisalabadi Language Learners.
Key Words: Falling Intonation, Faisalabadi Learners, Intonation Pattern, Acoustic, Accent
Introduction:
The most widely used language on earth is English. It is essential to both our personal and professional lives. No language in the world is pronounced in a monotone (i.e., the same musical tone) always, claim Sethi, J., and Dhamija, P.V. (1994). We rarely have a constant pitch when we speak. In normal speech, the pitch of our voice changes constantly : now going up, now going down, and sometimes remaining level or steady. Different pitches of the voice combine to form patterns of pitch variation, or toner,which constitutes the intonation of a language.
The intonation of a language , this, refers to the patterns of pitch variation, or tone , it uses in its utterances. In any language, correct pronunciation is highly important, and correct use of pronunciation is not estimated by sound, but also by the intonation. A correct intonation plays crucial role in the meaning of sound as such work was conducted on the Intonation in English with pedagogical implication, According to this study, Roach refers to four functions of intonation which are the attitudinal, accentual, discourse and grammatical functions. Without intonation,speech will be as though produced by a mechanical speech device.( Betti, 2021).
Pakistan is the land of five provinces. In Pakistan, every province has their own cultural and tribal language, in this case they have different communication styles from one another, and this accent affected their second language accent. Faisalabad is the third-largest city in Punjab province, with a population of about 3.2* million.
In this territory, people extensively speak English in educational institutes, offices, and public areas. But due their first language ( Punjabi / Urdu), which affected second language acquisition. A study was conducted comparing the preserved pronunciations with the dialect of English spoken in Faisalabad. Researchers found that no group of students used the same intonation in all sentences like RP. As a result, it can be argued that the Faisalabad dialect lacks expressive power in English, yet individuals use sentences in the original dialect. (Shunizia. S, Maimoona Abdul. A, 2020).
According to John. M Levis (1999) a focus on intonation as an important element of yes/no questions is misplaced since it does not serve a learner’s communicative needs. Because there is little clear meaning difference that can be attributed to intonation on yes/no questions for even native varieties, intonation on these questions is likely to play little or no role in intelligibility between Inner, Outer and Expanding circle varieties of English and should thus be de-emphasized in pedagogy.
Furthermore, different researchers have done the intonation patterns as such, Modeling of a rise-fall intonation pattern in the language of young Paris Speakers (Paternostro, R., & Goldman, J. P. 2014) in which researchers analyzed the major cues for identifying youth language in the Paris region. As part of a large-scale corpus-based analysis, this paper attempts to model a rise-fall final prosodic pattern, considered to be representative of a Paris working-class suburbs accent. In addition, A research done in Sindh in which researchers analyzed the acoustic examination of the voice samples provides evidence for higher frequency of stressed vowels and lower frequency for unstressed vowels relatively. A research article stated the topic “ Phonetic analysis of lexical stress in Sindhi. Sindh University Research Journal” (Abbasi, A. M., & Hussain, S.2015). However, In this case study, we will investigate the falling intonation pattern of the urban and the rural language learners of Faisalabad and then we will compare with the British intonation by using various resources.
1.1 Significance of the study:
The study is significant in that it reveals the falling intonation pattern of English language learners in Faisalabad. The study features the similarities and differences of Faisalabad’s learners versus British intonation pattern.
1.2 Problem Statement:
Generally, Faisalabadi learners do not speak sentences without expressional tone because of the influence of first language such as; Urdu and Punjabi. However, In this case study, we will investigate the falling intonation pattern of the urban and the rural language learners of Faisalabad and then we will compare with the British intonation by using various resources.
1.3 Purpose:
The purpose of the study is to compare the falling intonation patterns of language learners in Faisalabad. The comparison will be made of language learners belonging to urban and rural language learners of Faisalabad.
1.4 Objective:
In this case study, we did work under these objectives:
- To explore falling intonation patterns in language learners of Faisalabad
- To compare the data between rural and urban language learners
- To compare the data with British intonation pattern
1.5 Research Questions:
- How do urban language learners of Faisalabad use the falling intonation pattern?
- What kind of variation may be seen in the Intonation Faisalabadi English language learner?
- What kind of similarity may be seen in the Intonation between British language learners?
1.6 Limitation:
The result of the study is limited to a specific group of Faisalabad language learners’ intonation pattern, but this research can be interpreted in any other territory of Pakistan.
1.7 Delimitation:
Due to the limit of time and intentional access. Therefore, the study has been done in the specific group of Faisalabad’s male language learners. Furthermore, this case study has been limited to falling intonation patterns only. Albeit, we can do work in further phonetic areas.
2. Research Methodology:
The purpose of this study is to compare Faisalabad falling intonation pattern between urban and rural male language learners, and then with British Intonation. The population is divided into two categories. The first is group A, which consists of urban learners. , the second group B, which consists of rural learners, and group C, which consists of British learners. For the comparison, the data from group A , from group B, and group C were used as stratified random sampling. Strata are formed by separating into two groups: urban and rural. Thirty participants were chosen for data collection. 10 participants were chosen from each category. Learners ranging in age from 13-18 years old from higher secondary school. 10 sentences have been taken by category falling intonation pattern.
2.1 Tool for Data Collection:
The voices of learners were collected via the mobile microphone.
2.2 Tool for Data Analysis:
The voice samples were saved in MP3 and then converted into frequency graphs by using Wavesurfer 1.8.5.
3. Data Analysis and Discussion:
The collected data is explained below for analysis. In the following discussion and result language learners used different tonic expressions at the end of the sentence. Someone did not show any expression while pronounced sentence and someone lowered intonation in the end of the sentence as such in complete statement, wh-question, exclamation, and command.
3.1 Intonation in Falling tone:
There are six statements chosen for data analysis as such:
- I went to store. (Complete Statement)
- What is his name? (Wh-question)
- She was not relaxed, was she? (Tag-question)
- Show me what you have written. (Command)
- Would you like to have dinner with me tonight! (Invitation)
- How nice of you! (Exclamation )
3.2 In Language Learners of Urban Region
3.2.1 Falling Intonation in Wh-Question Statement:
These Wh-Question statements are said by urban language learners. This result showed that 30% of learners read the statement without giving any falling tone expression . And 60% of learners read the Wh-Question statements with a falling tone after the word, “name”. Furthermore, 10% of learners raise the tone at the end of the Wh-Question statements .
3.2.2 Falling Intonation in Complete Statement:
These complete statements are said by urban language learners. This result showed that 30% of learners read the complete statement without giving any falling tone expression. And 60% of learners read the statement with a falling tone expression after the word, “store”. Furthermore, 10% of learners raise the tone at the end of the complete statement.
Figure 1:Comparison between urban language learners in falling intonation pattern of complete statement in Faisalabad region.
3.2.3 Falling Intonation in Tag-Question Statement:
These Tag-Question statments are read by urban language learners. This result showed that 40% of learners read the tag-question statement without giving any falling tone expression. And 50% of learners read the tag-question statement with a falling tone expression after the word, “she”. Furthermore, 10% of learners raise the at the end tone of the tag-question statements.
3.2.4 Falling Intonation in Invitation Statements:
These invitation statements are said by urban language learners. This result showed that 30% of learners read the statement without giving any falling tone expression . And 60% of learners read the invitations with a falling tone expression after the word, “tonight”. Furthermore, 10% of learners raise the tone at the end of the invitation statements.
Figure 2:Comparison between urban language learners in falling intonation pattern of invitation statements in Faisalabad region
3.2.5 Falling Intonation in Command Statements:
Command Statements are used to give order for any task and order in private or public places. These command statements are said by urban language learners. This result showed that 30% of learners read the statement without giving any falling tone expression. And 60% of learners read the command statements with a falling tone expression after the word, “written”. Furthermore, 10% of learners raise the tone at the end of the command statements
3.2.6 Falling Intonation in Exclamatory Statement:
These exclamation statements are said by urban language learners. This result showed that 30% of learners read the statement without giving any falling tone expression. And 70% of learners read the exclamation statements with a falling tone expression after the word, “you”. Furthermore, 10% of learners raise the tone at the end of the exclamation statements.
Table 1: Percentage of results in Falling Tone Intonation Pattern of Urban Learners:
| Educational Institute | Similarities | Discrimination | Unclear |
| Urban Language Learners | 60% | 38% | 2% |
3.3 In Language Learners of Rural Region
3.3.1 Falling Intonation in Complete Statement:
Only 60% of learners in the rural region spoke the statement with a falling tone. 20% said without tonic expression. And 20% elevated the tonic expression at the end of the complete statement.
Figure 3:Comparison between rural language learners in falling intonation pattern of complete statement in Faisalabad region
3.3.2 Falling Intonation in Wh-Question Statement:
Wh-Question statements mostly speak to ask questions in the exam and the interview. Only 60% of learners in the rural region spoke the statement with a falling tone. 20% said without tonic expression. And 20% elevated the tonic expression at the end of the complete statement..
3.3.3 Falling Intonation in Command Statement:
Only 40% of learners in the rural region spoke the statement with a falling tone. 30% said without tonic expression. And 30% elevated the tonic expression at the end of the complete statement, because the learner elevated his voice in the sense of order/command attitude.
Figure 4:Comparison between rural language learners in falling intonation pattern of command statement in Faisalabad region
3.3.4 Falling Intonation in Invitation:
Learners showed politeness, when they spoke these statements, in fact rural people also have a heart of hospitality. However, 60% of learners in the rural region spoke the statement with a falling tone. 30% said without tonic expression. And 10% elevated the tonic expression at the end of the complete statement
3.3.5 Falling Intonation in Exclamation
Only 60% of learners in the rural region spoke the statement with a falling tone. 30% said without tonic expression. And 10% elevated the tonic expression at the end of the complete statement
Figure 5:Comparison between rural language learners in falling intonation pattern of exclamation statement in Faisalabad region
3.3.6 Falling Intonation in Tag-Question Statement:
Tag-Question statements mostly speak for inquiries. Only 70% of learners in the rural region spoke the statement with a falling tone,because most learners took a break before pronouncing the tag portion of the statement. 20% said without tonic expression. And 05% elevated the tonic expression at the end of the complete statement.
Table 2: Percentage of results in Falling Tone Intonation Pattern of Rural Learners:
| Educational Institute | Similarities | Discrimination | Unclear |
| Rural Language Learners | 70% | 25% | 5% |
4. Comparison between British and Faisalabad Learners :
These are invitation statements, (a) is read by the British learner and (b) and (c) is read by the Faisalabad urban and rural language learners. British learners read the invitation statement with 90% giving a falling tone expression, on the other hand, Faisalabad learners read the statement without giving it any falling expression tone in contrast to the British learne
.
Figure 6:Comparison between British and Faisalabad language learners in falling intonation pattern of invitation statement in Faisalabad region
Conclusion:
In the nutshell, the objective of the study is to analyze the falling intonation pattern of Faisalabadi’s urban and rural language learners. This result shows that learners use their own language expression to pronounce the statements. Learners lowered their voice at the end of the sentence and someone’s did not. 90% of learners spoke in their own native dialect rather than giving an English learner tone expression. However, Learners should focus on their language expression to speak English. The whole research is held under the patronage of Dr. Maimoona Abdulziz.
References:
Abdul Aziz, Maimoona; Sheikh, Shunizia;. (2022). Acoustic Variation In Intonation Patterns- A Comparison Of . Webology, 2740-2761.
Bartels, C. (1997). The Pragmatics of WH-Question Intonation in English. University of Pennsylvania Working Papers in Linguistics, 1-19.
Betti, M. J. (2021). Intonation in English with pedagogical Implications.
John, & Levis. (1999). The intonation and meaning of normal yes/no questions. World Englishes, 373-380.
Ladefoged, P., & Johnson, K. (2010). A Course in Phonetics. Boston: Wadsworth.
Paternostro, Roberto; Goldman, Jean Philippe;. (2014). Modeling of a rise-fall intonation pattern in the. HAL Open Sciences, 1-6.
Sethi, J., & Dhamija, P. V. (1994). A Course in Phonetics and Spoken English. Delhi: Prentic-Hall of India.
Abbasi, A. M., & Hussain, S. (2015). Phonetic analysis of lexical stress in Sindhi. Sindh University Research Journal, 47(4), 749-756.
Cohen, L., Manison, L., & Morrison, K. (2007). Research Methods in Education (6th ed.). New York Routledge.