Open Access
American Research Journal of English and Literature
ISSN (Online): 2378-9026
DOI: 10.46568/arjel
Proposing a Pitch-meter for English Tone-reading
Department of European Languages, Faculty of Arts, Social and Management Sciences
Federal University, Birnin-kebbi, Nigeria
Acheoah, John Emike (PhD), “Proposing a Pitch-meter for English Tone-reading ”. American Research
Journal of English and Literature; V3, I1; pp:1-6
Abstract
This study is very significant because it presents a new model for reading English words and stretches.
The English phonemes are segmental (vowel and consonant sounds) and suprasegmental (stress, intonation,
rhythm). The analysis of tone in English and any other language cannot be clear without knowledge of segmental
phonemes which produce tone in a stretch of utterance. The literature of phonetics and phonology shows that
there are different frameworks for reading tone in English. In this study, I simply advance knowledge in the
literature by evolving a notational structure for tone-reading (the “Notational Model”). Tone and intonation
are potent in connected speech (sentences of conversational exchanges). The rising and falling of voice-pitch
during speech is known as intonation. English intonation types include: falling intonation (tune I which moves
from a high pitch to a low pitch), rising intonation (tune II which moves from a low pitch to a high one) and
combined intonation.