Communication Quote by David Crystal
““Intonation is the use of pitch to convey meaning in a language. It has been described as the music or melody of speech.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Cambridge Encyclopedia of the English Language, 1995
Intonation uses pitch variations to express meaning, turning speech into a melodic pattern that signals questions, statements, emotions, and emphasis.
In simple terms: Pitch changes give speech meaning.
Key Takeaway
Listen to pitch to understand intent.
Themes
language
communication
phonetics
Mood
informative
analytical
Type
educational
technical
When to use this quote
- public speaking
- language teaching
- voice acting
- customer service
- language learning
Key Concepts
prosody
semantic signaling
Questions to Reflect On
- How does pitch affect listener interpretation?
- Can intonation change meaning without words?
A Different Perspective
Pitch alone may not convey meaning without context or facial cues.
