In this video, we're going to talk about intonation, which is part of pronunciation.
Intonation means when you change the pitch, which is this [speaks high] or this [speaks low]
or the volume, so the loudness or quietness of your voice.
One way we use intonation in English is to emphasize a word or an idea.
So in a typical sentence, we emphasize the content words - these are the words that carry meaning.
And we de-emphasize the function words, which are the grammar words,
the words that just make the sentence complete.
But sometimes you will break these rules and you'll
emphasize a word regardless of its role in the sentence
and we often do this to correct or to clarify something.
We're going to give you a lot of examples of that in this video.
I didn't say you were a good dancer.
[upbeat music plays]
I didn't say you were a good dancer.
Wow, Larissa you're a really interesting dancer. Thanks! Thanks that's so nice!
I didn't say you were a *good* dancer.
*I* didn't say you're a good dancer, but Julia thinks so.
I didn't say *you* were a good dancer, but Julie is amazing!
Did you tell Tommy I'm a good dancer?
I don't tell him you're a good *dancer*, but I said you were a great friend!
Hmm, I'll take that, I guess.
A wolf stole your purse.
[wolf howls]
A wolf stole your purse.
Larissa! Yes? A wolf stole your purse! A wolf stole a purse? A wolf stole *your* purse.
Misha, a wolf in town? Are you sure it wasn't a dog? Listen, a *wolf* stole your purse.
Okay, wait. Are you saying a wolf stole my parcel? No a wolf stole your *purse*.
Crazy.
Did it eat my purse? A wolf *stole* your purse. That's all I know.
So that was a few examples of how you use intonation to correct someone
or to clarify something when it's not clear.
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This is unbelievable!
..happens all the time, those wolves!