Which term describes the rise and fall of voice in speech?

Which term describes the rise and fall of voice in speech?

• A. Intonation
• B. Stress
• C. Morphemes
• D. Morphology

Answer: (A)

Pitch variation in speech—the rise and fall of voice across phrases and sentences—is called intonation. It creates the musical contour of language and helps listeners understand meaning beyond the exact words. Intonation signals whether a sentence is a statement, a question, or an instruction, and it can convey mood or attitude. In English, a rising pitch at the end of a yes/no question often indicates inquiry, while a falling pitch typically marks a declarative statement or command. This concept is distinct from stress, which concerns which syllables are emphasized within words; morphemes, the smallest units of meaning; and morphology, the study of word formation.

Pitch variation in speech—the rise and fall of voice across phrases and sentences—is called intonation. It creates the musical contour of language and helps listeners understand meaning beyond the exact words. Intonation signals whether a sentence is a statement, a question, or an instruction, and it can convey mood or attitude. In English, a rising pitch at the end of a yes/no question often indicates inquiry, while a falling pitch typically marks a declarative statement or command. This concept is distinct from stress, which concerns which syllables are emphasized within words; morphemes, the smallest units of meaning; and morphology, the study of word formation.