Intonation is the word for the 'melody' of spoken language : the way the musical pitch of the voice rises and falls. Intonation systems in languages are very complicated and difficult to analyze. and linguists disagree about how english intonation works.
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One was in which Intonation seems to be used is to snow how apiece of information fits in with what comes before and after . For instance, a speaker may raise his or her voice when taking over the conversation from-somebody else, or to indicate a change of subject. A rise or fall on a particular word may show that this is the 'centre' of the message -the place where the new information is being given; or it may signal a contrast or a special emphasis. When a speaker ends-on a falling tone, this often expresses some kind of conclusion or certainty: a rising tone at the end of a sentence may express uncertainty , suggest that there is more to be said, or invite another speaker to take over.
Intonation (together with speed, voice quality and loudness) can also say things about the speaker's attitude. For instance, when people are excited or angry they often raise and lower their voices more.
