SIX MAJOR TONE GROUPS

The labels shown (low drop, high drop, etc) were proposed by OConnor and Arnold (1961).
Though these names are not required when identifying a given tone group, they may be useful
as a quick description.
The tones in each tone group have been highlighted in yellow.

1) THE LOW DROP - Pattern: Low Pre-head+)(high head+) Low Fall

Definite and complete
Attitude: in STATEMENTS: with no head, detached, lack of involvement; with a high head,
categoric, weighty, serious, concerned, powerful.
In WH-QUESTIONS: with no head, detached; with a high head, searching, serious, intense,
urgent, cold, reserved.
In YES-NO QUESTIONS: serious, urgent. It is sometimes used to keep someone to the point.
Questions beginning with Will you... are often imperatives.
With negative questions it gives an exclamatory effect.
In COMMANDS: with no head, unemotional, calm, cold; with a high head, very serious, very
strong.
In INTERJECTIONS: with no head, calm, unsurprised, reserved, self-possessed; with a high
head, very strong.
In TAGS: (preceding group also with the Low Fall) demanding agreement.

2) THE HIGH DROP - Pattern: (Low Pre-head+)(High head +) High Fall

Definite and complete
Attitude: in STATEMENTS: conveying a sense of involvement, or participation, lightness. Polite
and friendly.
In WH-QUESTIONS: brisk, businesslike, friendly, lively, interested.
In YES-NO QUESTIONS: willing to discuss, sometimes skeptical.
In COMMANDS: suggesting a course of action.
In INTERJECTIONS: mildly surprised, not so reserved or self-possessed as with the Low Drop.
In TAGS: demanding agreement.

3) THE LOW BOUNCE Pattern: (Low Pre-head+) High head + Low Rise
Or High Pre-head + Low Rise
Attitude: in STATEMENTS: soothing, reassuring; (in echoes) questioning with a tone of surprise;
(in non-final word groups) creating expectancy about what is to follow.

In WH-QUESTIONS: sympathetically interested, particularly when asking these questions of

young children. Among adults too it may be used for an opening question; otherwise this tone is
fairly rare in wh-questions.
In YES-NO QUESTIONS: genuinely interested, polite and friendly.
In COMMANDS: soothing, encouraging.
In INTERJECTIONS: casual yet encouraging.

4) THE SWITCHBACK Pattern: (Low Pre-head+) (Falling Head+) Fall-Rise

Attitude: in STATEMENTS: in non-final or incomplete word groups, it typically conveys contrast,
concession, reluctance.
In its referring use, the tone draws attention to one element for contrast, and it shows an
intention to continue the utterance.
The tone most often expresses a lack of commitment, tentativeness or reservation. The attitude
may be defensive, reluctant, dissenting, suggesting; it may also be a warning, ironic or
sarcastic tone.
In YES-NO QUESTIONS: showing surprise, interest.
In echo questions: disapproving, critical attitude.
In requests: polite and friendly attitude.
In offers: less genuine or sincere than when said with a high fall.
In COMMANDS: warning, urgent.
In INTERJECTIONS: scornful.

5) THE HIGH BOUNCE Pattern: (Low Pre-head+) (High Head+) High Rise
Attitude: in STATEMENTS: questioning, trying to elicit a repetition; (in non-final word groups)
casual, tentative.
In WH-QUESTIONS: with the nuclear tone on the interrogative word, asking to repeat; with the
nuclear tone following the interrogative word, echoing the listeners question before going on to
answer it.
In YES-NO QUESTIONS: either echoing the listeners question or (in straightforward, non-echo
questions) light and casual.
In COMMANDS and INTERJECTIONS: questioning all or part of the listeners command or
interjection, but with no critical intention.
In TAGS: expecting agreement.

6) THE HIGH DIVE Pattern: (Low Pre-head+) (High head+) High Fall + (Low Accents+) Low
Rise
(i.e. FALL-PLUS-RISE)
Attitude: in STATEMENTS: appealing to the listener to continue with the topic of conversation.
In its referring use, this pattern shows two important ideas in the same tone group.
The idea said with the fall is more important than the element with the rise.
Attitudes (esp. when thanking, apologizing, complimenting, expressing
persuasively convincing; encouraging, pleading, soothing or reassuring.

good

wishes):

In QUESTIONS: the use of the High Dive with questions of any kind is unusual. If it occurs in
questions, it shows considerable emotion.
In COMMANDS: for commands, unlike questions, the High Dive is quite common. The High Fall
takes place on the main verb in affirmative commands, or Dont in negative commands, and
on Do or Please used as intensifiers. The attitude is soothing or pleading.
In INTERJECTIONS: intensely encouraging.