1. The general contour of pitch movement over the head.
- descending heads. . The first full is stressed syllable is on a high pitch, each following stressed syllable is lower than the previous one.
I ̍think you'd ̍better ̍go ̀home now.
- ascending heads . The onset syllable is set on a low pitch, each following full stressed syllable begins higher, that the preceding one.
I ˌdon't ̍know ̍why she ̍didn't ̀tell me.
- level heads . All the syllables pronounced on the same pitch level.
̍Let's meet at the ̀theatre.
ˌLet's ˌmeet at the ̖theatre.
2. The pitch movement within each stressed group. (Unstressed syllables going after the syllable)
- stepping heads. The pitch movement within each stressed group is even unchanging.
You should ̍go to there by ̀train.
- sliding heads. The pitch movement within each stressed group is downward.
↷Tell him you ↷dont ˙want to ̀´see them.
- scandent heads. The pitch movement within each stressed group is upward.
I ︣︣ thought you'd ︣ already ̀done it.
3. The distribution of relative prominence among the semantic items.
- one-peak/compact heads. Only onset has full stress all either syllable are either partially stressed or unstressed.
̍Let's ͘go to the ͘cinema with ̀Jim.
- diffuse/double-peak heads. All semantically important words are fully stressed.
̍Let's ̍go to the ̍cinema with ̀Jim.
- mixed heads. There are several full stresses and partial stresses in the head.
̍Let's ͘go to the ̍cinema with ̀Jim.
| Type | General contour | Pitch movement within stressed group | Distribution of relative prominence | |
| Descending Stepping Head | descending | stepping (even unchanging) | diffuse | sounds formal, monotonous (sometimes normal) |
| High Level Head | level | stepping (even unchanging) | one-peak (compact) | sounds lively, more used in conversations |
The Stepping (Gradually Descending Stepping) Head
General contour: a descending overall contour
Pitch movement within stressed group: even pitch throughout a stressed-group, each fully stressed syllable beginning with the second is lower in pitch that the preceding one. Unstressed and partially stressed syllables (which are optional) are said on the same pitch level as the preceding fully stressed syllable (stepping, even unchanging)
Distribution of relative prominence: a diffuse or mixed distribution of prominence.
How does it sound: sounds formal, monotonous, serious, weighty (sometimes normal)
You can ̍certainly ̍ask him to ̍wait in the ̀sitting room.
̍m ̍m ̗m ˴m
̍m ̍m ̍m ˴m
̍m ̍m ̀ ́m
