Münster Quizzen

Intonation & Meaning

1. Intonation und Betonung: How a Change in Tone can change the meaning of an utterance (Äußerungsform).

   1. Neutral Inquiry (neutrale Anfrage): Keep your pitch even and natural throughout the sentence.
      • Do you have a nice office?
   2. Curiosity (Kuriosität): Raise your pitch slightly at "nice" and let it rise more at "office."
      • Do you have a nice office?
   3. Skepticism (Skeptsis): Use a slightly lower pitch on "nice" and "office," and let your voice drop slightly at the end.
      • Do you have a nice office?
   4. Surprise (Überraschung): Start with a higher pitch, and make "nice" and "office" even higher.
      • Do you have a nice office?
   5. Envy (Neid): Emphasize "nice" with a wistful (wehmütig) tone, and keep a steady, slightly rising pitch.
      • Do you have a nice office?
   6. Sarcasm (Sarkasmus): Use a flat tone, and stress "nice" with a mocking quality.
      • Do you have a nice office?
   7. Polite Inquiry (höfliche Anfrage): Keep your tone friendly and warm, with a slight rise at the end.
      • Do you have a nice office?
   8. Encouragement (Ermutigung): Use a hopeful, uplifting tone, raising the pitch slightly on "nice" and "office."
      • Do you have a nice office?
   9. Disbelief (Unglaube): Start with a high pitch on "Do," drop slightly on "you," and rise again sharply on "nice" and "office."
      • Do you have a nice office?

   Try practicing these sentences out loud, emphasizing the tonal changes as described, to better understand how intonation affects meaning.