Tone concord
If two successive intonation phrases are grammatically parallel, this may be signaled intonationally by having the same tone.
This is particularly evident in cases of non-defining apposition (see
4.8
). Here there is regularly tone concord between the two intonation phrases. That is to say, the tone used for the first is repeated (copied) in the second. In the following, the tone on colleague is repeated on Charles:
(i) ▸This is my ⤵colleague, | ⤵Charles.
(ii) Now ▸this is my ⤵⤴colleague, | ⤵⤴Charles, | and ▸he will be taking ⤵over
(iii) The I've got my ⤴colleague, ⤴Charles, | and ▸also my friend ⤵Rachel.
Tone concord is a tendency rather than an iron rule. It is also perfectly possible to say:
(ii) Now ▸this is my ⤵⤴colleague, | ⤵⤴Charles, | and ▸he will be taking ⤵over
(iii) The I've got my ⤴colleague, ⤴Charles, | and ▸also my friend ⤵Rachel.
(iv) ▸This is my ⤵⤴colleague, | ⤵Charles.
or indeed to place both elements within a single IP (see
4.8
), though this tends to imply defining rather than non-defining apposition:
(v) ▸This is my colleague ⤵Charles. (= Of my colleagues, this is Charles)
The use of tone concord is particularly likely where the utterance as a whole is not yet finished, as in (ii) and (iii).
Tone concord can signal parallelism not only between nouns or noun phrases but also between other parallel structures: between other parts of speech and indeed between complete clauses or sentences
I re⤵ject it, | I de⤵spise it, | I won't ac⤵cept it.
▸Jenifer's ⤵better, | she's ⤵well again.
You say that ▸nothing is worse than a ⤴war? || Well, dis⤵honour is worse than a war, | ⤵slavery is worse than a war!
A tone can be reused where information is presented as two IPs rather than one,
and where we string together near-synonyms for emphasis:
▸Jenifer's ⤵better, | she's ⤵well again.
You say that ▸nothing is worse than a ⤴war? || Well, dis⤵honour is worse than a war, | ⤵slavery is worse than a war!
We've ▸built a ⤵barbecue | on the ⤵patio.
Don't be | ridiculous.
I ⤵love you, | I a⤵dore you, | I ▸can't live with⤵out you.
When too is used at the end of a sentence or clause to mean 'in addition' (see
Don't be | ridiculous.
I ⤵love you, | I a⤵dore you, | I ▸can't live with⤵out you.
3.19
), and given a separate intonation phrase, it usually exhibits tone concord. The same is true of its synonyms as well and also, and of its negative synonym either.
⤵⤴Andy isn't the only one interested; | ⤵Neil's interested, ⤵too.
If ⤵⤴Martha wants to to come, as ⤵⤴well, | we'll need a ▸bigger ⤵car.
She ▸didn't ⤵⤴ask for it, | and she ▸didn't ⤵get it, | ⤵either.
⤵Peter wants some, | ⤵too (definitive; concord, definitive)
⤵⤴Peter wants some, | ⤵too. (implicational, definitive)
⤵⤴Peter wants some, | ⤵⤴too (implicational, concord, implicational)
⤵⤴Peter wants some, | ⤵too. (implicational, definitive)
⤵⤴Peter wants some, | ⤵⤴too (implicational, concord, implicational)