The paper is concerned with the analysis of short linguistic units on the basis of David Brazil’s theory of discourse intonation. The first part of the paper gives a general outline of Brazil’s theory and his systematic approach to intonation analysis. The second part focusses on the analysis of suprasegmental phonetical structures of an actual text example.
The paper is not aimed at presenting a new linguistic approach nor at critically analysing an existing theory but rather at using and exemplifying this theory.
What is exemplified is David Brazil’s theory of discourse intonation as presented in his book Pronunciation for Advanced Learners of English.
Brazil’s Discourse Intonation
Intonation constitutes an essential element of language in oral communication and is thus subject of linguistic research. While the assumption that intonation carries meaning goes widely unchallenged, linguists still argue as to the exact function of intonation.
David Brazil, along with other linguists, propagated the idea of intonation as being discoursal in function. He thus distances himself from those who conceive intonation as having a grammatical, accentual or attitudinal function.
[...]
Table of Contents
- Introduction
- Brazil's Discourse Intonation – Outline
- The tone unit
- The tone
- Key and termination
- Intonational analysis
- Demonstration of Brazil's Discourse Intonation - Procedure
- Demonstration of Brazil's discourse intonation using the example of a short extract of The Lord Of The Rings
- Conclusion
Objectives and Key Themes
This paper aims to exemplify David Brazil's theory of discourse intonation through the analysis of a short text. It does not aim to present a new theory or critically analyze existing ones. The focus is on applying Brazil's framework, as presented in his book "Pronunciation for Advanced Learners of English," to a practical example.
- Application of Brazil's discourse intonation theory.
- Analysis of tone units and their components (prominence, key, termination, tone).
- Examination of different tone types (fall, fall-rise, rise, rise-fall, level) and their communicative functions.
- Practical demonstration of intonation analysis using a short text excerpt.
- Discussion of controversies and critiques surrounding Brazil's theory.
Chapter Summaries
Introduction: This chapter introduces the paper's objective: to demonstrate David Brazil's theory of discourse intonation through a practical application. It clarifies that the paper is not intended as a critique or a presentation of a new linguistic approach, but rather as an illustrative example of how Brazil's system works in analyzing short linguistic units. The chapter outlines the two-part structure: a review of Brazil's theory and a subsequent intonational analysis of a sample text.
Brazil's Discourse Intonation – Outline: This section provides a comprehensive overview of the core tenets of Brazil's discourse intonation theory. It introduces the concept of the tone unit as the fundamental building block of spoken English, explaining its structure and the factors influencing prominence and tonicity. The chapter details the four key systems – prominence, key, termination, and tone – that determine the speaker's choices within the tone unit. It emphasizes the discoursal function of intonation, distinguishing it from grammatical, accentual, or attitudinal approaches. Crucially, this chapter sets the stage for the practical application of the theory in subsequent sections.
Intonational analysis: This chapter details the practical application of Brazil's theory, outlining the procedure followed in the analysis and presenting a detailed analysis of a short extract from "The Lord of the Rings." This section likely demonstrates the identification of tone units, the assignment of tones, and the interpretation of the intonational choices within the context of the text, showcasing the practical use of Brazil's framework.
Keywords
Discourse intonation, tone unit, prominence, key, termination, tone, fall, fall-rise, rise, rise-fall, level tone, David Brazil, intonational meaning, spoken English, linguistic analysis, turn-taking.
FAQ: A Comprehensive Language Preview of David Brazil's Discourse Intonation
What is the purpose of this paper?
This paper aims to exemplify David Brazil's theory of discourse intonation through the practical analysis of a short text. It's not intended to present a new theory or critically analyze existing ones, but rather to illustrate the application of Brazil's framework from his book "Pronunciation for Advanced Learners of English."
What are the key themes explored in this paper?
The paper focuses on applying Brazil's discourse intonation theory, analyzing tone units and their components (prominence, key, termination, tone), examining different tone types and their communicative functions, and practically demonstrating intonation analysis using a short text excerpt. It also touches upon controversies and critiques surrounding Brazil's theory.
What are the main components of David Brazil's discourse intonation theory covered in this paper?
The paper covers the core tenets of Brazil's theory, including the concept of the tone unit, its structure, factors influencing prominence and tonicity, and the four key systems: prominence, key, termination, and tone. The discoursal function of intonation is emphasized, differentiating it from grammatical, accentual, or attitudinal approaches.
What text is used as an example for the intonational analysis?
A short extract from "The Lord of the Rings" is used to practically demonstrate the application of Brazil's discourse intonation theory.
What is the structure of the paper?
The paper is structured into an introduction, a section outlining Brazil's discourse intonation theory, a section detailing the intonational analysis of the example text, and a conclusion. The introduction clarifies the paper's objective and scope. The theory section provides a comprehensive overview of Brazil's framework. The analysis section demonstrates the practical application of the theory to the chosen text excerpt.
What are the key steps involved in the intonational analysis?
The intonational analysis involves identifying tone units, assigning tones (fall, fall-rise, rise, rise-fall, level), and interpreting the intonational choices within the context of the text, all based on Brazil's framework.
What are the key terms used in this paper?
Key terms include: Discourse intonation, tone unit, prominence, key, termination, tone, fall, fall-rise, rise, rise-fall, level tone, David Brazil, intonational meaning, spoken English, linguistic analysis, and turn-taking.
What is the overall takeaway from this paper?
The paper provides a practical demonstration of how David Brazil's theory of discourse intonation can be applied to analyze spoken language. It serves as a useful illustration of the theory's practical application, rather than a critical evaluation or a novel contribution to the field.
- Quote paper
- Lucius Burgess (Author), 2009, A demonstration of David Brazil’s theory of Discourse Intonation, Munich, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/205037
