DISCOURSE INTONATION IN L2: FROM THEORY AND RESEARCH TO PRACTICE

Abstract

DISCOURSE INTONATION IN L2: FROM THEORY AND RESEARCH TO PRACTICE. Dorothy M. Chun. Amsterdam: Benjamins, 2002. Pp. xvii + 285. CD-ROM. $52.95 paper.The objectives of this book are to emphasize the importance of intonation within the discourse domain and to draw upon research to suggest ways of teaching discourse-based intonation to second language (L2) learners. This book is organized in three parts. The first provides an overview of linguistic theories on prosodic elements. In this part, the author discusses four major categories of intonation according to function: grammatical (e.g., using intonation to mark prominence or stress), affective (e.g., to express attitudes or emotions), sociolinguistic (e.g., to signal politeness), and, importantly in this book, discourse (e.g., to contribute to cohesion in speech). Part 2 takes a look back at L2 research on pronunciation and intonation and the early teaching focus on individual sounds. This leads to the discussion of the current and future direction for teaching that emphasizes the discourse level of speech with an eye toward developing interactional competence at the macro level of communication. Studies have shown that improvement in the functional use of prosody contributes to higher production ratings for L2 speakers (Wennerstrom, 1998).