--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Intonation is the use of pitch to convey…" description: "\"“Intonation is the use of pitch to convey meaning in a language. It has been described as the music or melody of speech.”\" — David Crystal" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/david-crystal-8647_communication_intonation-is-the-use-of-pitch-to-convey_963512.png" --- # Intonation is the use of pitch to convey meaning in a… ![“Intonation is the use of pitch to convey meaning in a language. It has been described as the music or melody of speech.” quote by David Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/david-crystal-8647_communication_intonation-is-the-use-of-pitch-to-convey_963512.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/david-crystal-8647_communication_intonation-is-the-use-of-pitch-to-convey_963512.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/8be/david-crystal-8647_communication_intonation-is-the-use-of-pitch-to-convey_963512.png) > ““Intonation is the use of pitch to convey meaning in a language. It has been described as the music or melody of speech.”” [David Crystal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-crystal/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. 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. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communication](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communication/) [Intonation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/intonation/) [Music](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/music/) [Song](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/song/) ## Related quotes > [“You really need to work on intonation when you use sarcasm. That way people will know when you’re being an asshole.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samantha-young/you-really-need-to-work-on-intonation-when-you-use-sarcasm-that-way/) [Samantha Young](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samantha-young/) > [There's a great freedom of forms and intonations in Luigi Fontanella's poetry. 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