Intonation patterns of exclamations of Chinese EFL learners from Zhenjiang

Abstract

The present study investigates Chinese EFL (English as a Foreign Language) learners' intonation pattern of exclamatory sentences. The results show that both Chinese EFL learners and English RP speakers (Received Pronunciation) adopt a falling (H*L) tone of a sentence to realize the exclamatory intonation. However, before the last H*L in an intonational phrase, a rising tone and the pitch contour enlargement can be observed. This study also shows that the final boundary tone of Chinese EFL learners is mostly realized as low (L%), and the same pattern can be found in English RP speakers, whereas the initial boundary tone of Chinese EFL learners is mostly high(H%). Moreover, Chinese EFL learners' pitch range of exclamations is wider than that of English RP speakers, and Chinese EFL learners intend to use more pauses in a sentence.