Long rising

 

Level

 

Long falling

 

Sharp falling

 

Sharp rising and falling

 

Sharp falling and rising

 

Hesitating

 

These may be varied indefinitely, and serve merely to illustrate what wide

varieties of combination may be effected by these two simple inflections of the

voice.

 

It is impossible to tabulate the various inflections which serve to express

various shades of thought and feeling. A few suggestions are offered here,

together with abundant exercises for practise, but the only real way to master

inflection is to observe, experiment, and practise.

 

For example, take the common sentence, "Oh, he's all right." Note how a rising

inflection may be made to express faint praise, or polite doubt, or uncertainty