Intonation and Emotions

We can get a lot of information from how something is said and the tone of voice that the speaker uses.

  • Listen to the intonation to help you understand the speakers' emotions and how they feel.
  • Do the speakers sound happy, sad, worried, frightened, annoyed, etc.?
  • Voices are often high to express strong emotion, e.g. when we are excited, happy, frightened or annoyed.
  • Voices are often low when we are bored or uninterested.
  • Understanding the emotions of the speakers will help you understand what they are saying.
Discussion

Do you speak quicker when you are excited?  Can you tell how your friends or family are feeling by their voice?  Give us some examples of how your voice and intonation change when your emotions change.

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