Intonation: meaning, definitions and examples

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intonation

[ ˌɪn.təˈneɪ.ʃən ]

^{Context #1}

in speech

The rise and fall of the voice in speaking.

Synonyms

accent, cadence, inflection, stress

Examples of usage

The teacher explained the importance of intonation in speech.
Proper intonation can greatly enhance communication.
She noticed his nervousness from his intonation.
His intonation suggested he was asking a question.
Her intonation indicated she was not pleased.

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music

The rise and fall of the pitch of the voice or of an instrument in music.

Synonyms

harmony, melody, pitch, tuning

Examples of usage

The singer's intonation was perfect throughout the performance.
The violinist focused on achieving precise intonation.
Intonation is crucial for creating harmonious melodies.
Her intonation on the piano was exceptional.
Improving intonation can transform a musical piece.

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linguistics

The variation of pitch in the spoken language as a feature of the pronunciation of a particular dialect or language.

Synonyms

accent, intonation pattern, speech pattern

Examples of usage

Intonation patterns can vary significantly between languages.
Linguists study the intonation of different dialects.
Understanding intonation is key to mastering a foreign language.
The intonation of English differs from that of French.
He recognized the regional intonation in her speech.

Translations

Translations of the word "intonation" in other languages:

🇵🇹 entonação

🇮🇳 स्वर

🇩🇪 Intonation

🇮🇩 intonasi

🇺🇦 інтонація

🇵🇱 intonacja

🇯🇵 イントネーション

🇫🇷 intonation

🇪🇸 entonación

🇹🇷 entonasyon

🇰🇷 억양

🇸🇦 تنغيم

🇨🇿 intonace

🇸🇰 intonácia

🇨🇳 语调

🇸🇮 intonacija

🇮🇸 hljómfall

🇰🇿 интонация

🇬🇪 ინტონაცია

🇦🇿 intonasiya

🇲🇽 entonación

Word origin

The word 'intonation' originated from the Latin word 'intonare', meaning 'to sing'. It first appeared in the English language in the early 17th century. Originally used in the context of music, intonation later expanded to include speech and linguistics. The study of intonation plays a crucial role in communication and music, highlighting the importance of pitch variation in conveying meaning and emotions.