Dutch for Americans
PHONETICS

Chapter 10: Intonation Patterns

Learning Objectives

  • Understand the basic intonation patterns of Dutch
  • Apply appropriate intonation for statements, questions, and emphasis
  • Recognize how Dutch intonation differs from English

10.1 What is Intonation?

Intonation is the rise and fall of pitch across a sentence. It conveys:

  • Sentence type (statement, question, command)
  • Emotion and attitude
  • Focus and emphasis

10.2 Declarative Sentences (Statements)

Pattern: Slight rise on the stressed syllable, then fall at the end.

Example: Ik woon in Amsterdam. (I live in Amsterdam.)

         Am-
    in        ster-
woon              dam↓
Ik

The pitch falls at the end, signaling a complete statement.

10.3 Yes/No Questions

Pattern: Rising intonation at the end.

Example: Woon je in Amsterdam? (Do you live in Amsterdam?)

                    dam?↑
               ster-
          Am-
    in
Woon je

10.4 WH-Questions (Information Questions)

Pattern: High pitch on the question word, falling at the end.

Example: Waar woon je? (Where do you live?)

WAAR
    woon
         je?↓

10.5 Dutch vs. English Intonation

Key differences:

  1. Dutch falls more dramatically at the end of statements
  2. Dutch yes/no questions rise more clearly at the end
  3. Dutch uses less extreme pitch range overall than American English

10.6 Expressing Emotions

Surprise:

  • Wider pitch range
  • Higher starting point
  • Echt?! (Really?!) - high rising tone

Skepticism:

  • Flatter intonation
  • Slight rise-fall on key word

Enthusiasm:

  • Higher overall pitch
  • More variation
  • Wat leuk! (How nice!)

10.7 Listing Intonation

When listing items, each item rises slightly until the last one, which falls: Ik heb appels↗, peren↗, en bananen↓. (I have apples, pears, and bananas.)

10.8 Tag Questions

Dutch equivalents like hè?, toch?, nietwaar?: Je komt toch? (You’re coming, right?)

  • Main sentence falls
  • Tag rises slightly

Practice Exercises

  1. Statement vs. Question: Practice both:

    • Je bent student. (You are a student.) - falling
    • Ben je student? (Are you a student?) - rising

  2. WH-Question Practice:

    • Wat is dat? (What is that?)
    • Hoe gaat het? (How are you?)
    • Wanneer kom je? (When are you coming?)

  3. Emotional Intonation: Say Goed zo! (Well done!) with different emotions:

    • Genuine praise
    • Sarcasm
    • Surprise