The rise and fall of the voice in speech, which conveys meaning and emotion.
Here's a breakdown of why:
* Rise and fall: Intonation refers to the changes in pitch (how high or low your voice is) during speech.
* Meaning: Intonation helps us understand the meaning of a sentence, especially in spoken language. For example, a statement ends with a falling intonation, while a question ends with a rising intonation.
* Emotion: Intonation also conveys our emotions. A happy statement might have a higher, brighter pitch, while a sad one might have a lower, more monotone pitch.
Here are some other terms related to intonation:
* Prosody: This is a broader term that includes intonation, rhythm, and stress in speech.
* Pitch contour: This refers to the specific pattern of pitch changes within a sentence or phrase.
* Tone of voice: This describes the overall emotional quality of your speech, influenced by intonation and other factors.
Let me know if you'd like to know more about specific aspects of intonation!