Intonation is the rise and fall of your voice when you speak. In some languages, intonation goes up at the end, which indicates it’s a question – this is the case in French, for example.
If you use the exact same intonation in English, you’re definitely going to reveal your non-nativeness.
To practice your intonation just focus on it. To do that, you need to eliminate words and ‘speak’ using a made-up word (try ‘mi’ or ‘mimi’).
Listen to a recording, sentence by sentence, and ‘repeat’ using your word (‘mi’ or ‘mimi’, or anything else you like!) – this will essentially sound like you’re just saying ‘mimimi mimi mimimimi’.
That way, you don’t get distracted by meaning and you focus your full attention on intonation. Language is like music – it goes up and down, and once you get it right you’ll move closer and closer towards sounding like a native speaker.
However, while intonation can indicate whether a statement is a question or not, the choice of words can also provide clues about the intended meaning. For instance, in English, the phrase “I think” often indicates uncertainty, while “I believe” suggests a stronger conviction, so keep it in mind when listening to how the native speakers do it.
In addition to focusing on intonation, try to also pay attention to the rhythm of your speech. The speed and flow of your words can greatly affect how well you communicate in a new language.
Speak slowly at first, then gradually increase your speed as you become more comfortable. This will help you adjust to the natural pace of the language you’re learning.
Practise saying the same thing with different pace of speech, then record and listen. Don’t forget to share with us, if you’re interested in feedback from professionals!
