A REFLECTION ON TONE AND ITS PEDGOGICAL IMPLICATIONS

Abstract

Tone is central to the study o f English speech beyond the individual words. This is obvious in languages tike English, but rone and intonation interfaced in the study o f die global theory o f intonational phonology. This p a p e r takes another look at tone, beyond its conception in relation to words, it sees it as inclusive term precluding both tone and intonation. The first p a rt o f the paper introduces intonation as phenomena central to the learning o f second language like English without which it could not be learnt properly. In the second part o f this p a p e r pitch as vibration o f vocal cords caused by pressure from lungs in an attempt fo r humans to speak specific to particular languages was handled. The third pa rt addresses tone as contrastive and relative phonological term in relation to words o f a language. In pa rt four issues like tone floating syndrome and functions o f tone in African languages and English were explored. Part five summed the major arguments o f the paper that intonation needs to be properly and pragmatically taught and future direction o f matching theoretical fonnulations and practical drills and exercises and mode o f designing them was proposed as area o f research in English/Nigerian languages.