Section VI. Types of Heads in English

B. Classification of Head Types. General Principles.

 

The head of an intonation group extends from the first fully stressed syllable (including it) up to the nucleus.

The function of the head is to express the modal-attitudinal meaning and the emotional colouring of an utterance.

Classifications of heads are based on the following 3 criteria:

1) the general contour of pitch movement over the head;

2) the pitch movement within each stress-group;

3) the distribution of relative prominence among the semantic units in the prenuclear part of an utterance.

 

According to the I criterion head patterns are classified into:

 

1) Descending – the first fully stressed syllable is said on a high pitch, while each following fully stressed syllable begins lower than the preceding one.

*I ^|think we’d ^|better ^|go ^\together.

2) Ascending – the first fully stressed syllable is said on a low pitch, while each following fully stressed syllable begins higher than the preceding one.

*I _|think we’d ^|better ^|go ^\together.

3) Level – there are almost no contrasts in the initial pitch height of the stressed syllables. The Level head may be of a high, mid and low varieties.

* ^|Let’s ^|meet at ^\seven.

* _|Shall we _|meet at /seven?

 

According to the II criterion head patterns are classified into:

 

2) Stepping – is characterized by an even, unchanging pitch level over each of the stress-groups.

3) Sliding - is characterized by a downward pitch movement over the stress-groups.

4) Scandent – has an upward pitch movement over the stress-groups.

 

Taking into consideration the I criterion these types of heads are further subdivided into:

1. Stepping: 1.1. Stepping Descending.

1.2. Stepping Ascending.

1.3. Stepping Level.

2. Sliding: 2.1. Sliding Descending.

2.2. Sliding Ascending.

2.3. Sliding Level.

3. Scandent: 3.1. Scandent Descending.

3.2. Scandent Ascending.

3.3. Scandent Level.

 

According to the III criterion head patterns are classified into:

 

1) One-peak head – with one peak of prominence in the initial position.

* ^|James is ^. coming ^. tomorrow ^\evening.

2) Diffuse head – all the semantically important words are given full stress and sound equally important. The simplest form – is a double-peak head:

* ^|James is ^|coming ^\tomorrow.

3) Mixed type of head – with both full and partial stresses in the head.

* ^|James is ^. coming to ^|visit his ^. parents ^|tomorrow ^\evening.

 

B. Types of Heads

 

1. The Stepping (Gradually Descending Stepping) Head – is characterized by a descending overall contour. Each fully stressed syllable beginning with the second is lower in pitch than the preceding one. Unstressed and partially stressed syllables are said on the same pitch as the preceding fully stressed syllable.

* ^|Let’s have a ^|look at this ^|amazing ^\photo.

This type of head may be used with any nuclear tone (Rising, Falling, Falling-rising, Rising-Falling). It is sometimes called the most typical (normal) kind of head in English.

The function -the Stepping Head is common for: 1) reading aloud; 2) formal conversation; 3) lecturing, etc.

2. The High Head – all the syllables in this type of head are said on the same rather high pitch. There is only one fully stressed syllable on the first important word.

* ^|Mike is ^. always ^. making the same ^\mistake.

The function -the High Head is common for conversation.

 

3. The Broken Descending Stepping Head – is characterized by an upward break somewhere in the middle of the head, after witch a downward movement is continued.

The effect of an upward break is achievedby pronouncing one of the stressed syllables on rather a higher pitch-level than the preceding one. The break is usually made on any fully stressed syllable beginning with the third.

* He has ^|told the ^. story ^. about it ^|hundreds of ^|times to ^\all of us. – In this example the word “ hundreds ” is pronounced on rather a higher pitch-level than the preceding one, after witch a downward movement is continued.

 

The function -the Broken Descending Stepping Head is usedin order to avoid the monotonous effect ofthe Stepping Head within an intonation-group that contains more than 3 stressed syllables.

The upward break is usually made on semantically important words which express an unusual degree of quantity or quality, some extraordinary, unexpected actions (thousands, millions; much, too, very, extremely, absolutely; awful, fantastic; to shout, to scream, etc.)

 

4. The Ascending Stepping Head – the first fully stressed syllable is said on a low pitch, while each following fully stressed syllable begins higher than the preceding one. Unstressed syllables are pronounced on the same pitch as the preceding stressed syllable to which they are attached.

* I’ve _|told you ^|about it ^|many ^\times.

The Ascending Stepping Head is typically combined with the nuclear high falling and high rising tones. As a result of the increased weight of the nuclear word (the word “times” in the given example) the Ascending Stepping Head makes the listener pay more attention to the end of the utterance.

The function -the Ascending Stepping Head is often used to show the feeling of impatience, surprise, protest, disbelief, enthusiastic approval, support, etc.

5. The Low Head – all the syllables (stressed and unstressed) are pronounced on a low pitch. Prominence on the relevant syllables in this type of head is achieved by a greater force of articulation and longer duration.

* I’ll _|look through the _|letters _|tomorrow /morning.

The most frequent nuclear tones after the Low Head are the Low Fall and the Low Rise.

The function -the Low Head is often used to show a cool, phlegmatic, disinterested or disapproving attitude.

6. The Sliding Head -is formed by a sequence of slides, i.e. downward pitch movements on each fully stressed syllable of the head.

*I’ll never ^. go there again whatever you \/ say.

 

In the Descending Sliding Head each preceding stressed syllable starts on a higher pitch than the following one. The first full stress is made on the highest pitch. This type of head (unlike the Gradually Descending Stepping Head) has a jumpy, or wave-like, character. Partially stressed syllables in the given type of head gradually carry the pitch down. This type of head is most frequently combined with the Falling-Rising Tone.

The function -the Sliding Head is often used in lively, expressive conversation and in reading emotionally coloured texts.

 

7. The Scandent Head -is formed by a sequence of upward pitch-changes on each of the stressed syllables which are indicated with an upward arrow (]m). These upward pitch movements are realized either inside the stressed syllable (when no unstressed syllables follow) or on the unstressed syllables which are then pronounced on a higher pitch than the preceding stressed syllable. Partial stresses in the given type of head behave in the same way as the unstressed syllables: they continue the rise of the voice initiated on the preceding stressed syllable.

The initial points of the stressed syllables most typically take the same level above or below the middle of the voice-range (the Level Scandent Head). E.g.:

I'd ]rather ]do it my^\self.

The stressed syllables may also form a descending or an ascending contour (the Descending Scandent Head and the Ascending Scandent Head, respectively).

Utterances pronounced with the Scandent Head sound lively and expressive. The exact modal connotation depends on the nuclear tone and the communicative type of an utterance. Combined with the High Rise in general questions the Scandent Head often expresses surprise and incredulity. E.g.:

- I've been at the football match today.

- ]Haven't you ]'been at the / library?

Combined with the Low Rise in imperative utterances this head has a reassuring, encouraging meaning and is often used in speaking to children. E.g.:

]Don't for]get you must ]share with /Jimmy.

The Scandent Head before a falling nuclear tone may express the speaker's irritation or, vice versa, cheerfulness and interest (the exact meaning is always clear from the context). E.g.:

]I ]hate ]'doing ^\nothing.

It's a ]useful ]thing to re^\member.