TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION (BAS301) NOTES

UNIT 1 (CO1)

Unit 1: Fundamentals of Communication and Voice Dynamics:

Role and Purpose of Communication, Types and Flow of Communication,
Barriers to Effective Communication, 7C’s of communication, Code and Content;
Stimulus and Response, Vowel Sounds and Consonant Sounds, Tone: Rising and
Falling Tone.

WHAT IS COMMUNICATION?
“COMMUNICATION IS THE KEY”
Communication is the process of passing information and understanding from one
person to another. It is the process of imparting ideas and making oneself understood
by others.
-Thed Haiman

Communication is the two-way process of exchanging ideas and information.

-Murphy-et-al

Now let us look around and you will find people involved in several activities, which
involves:
-
Informal conversations
Meetings
Presentations
Phone calls
Tele-conferencing
Video-conferencing
Gossiping
Net surfing
Chatting and so on.
In short, we need to communicate in order to interact. Communication is one of the
essential conditions of social interaction; it plays a key role in our life.
Now let us try to understand what the term ‘communication’ means. The term has been
defined
at various levels. The word communication comes from
the Latin word
“communicare”, meaning ‘to share, to impart, or to commune (to share your emotions
and feelings with someone without speaking). Its literal meaning is ‘giving or sharing
information’. “Communication is a process of sharing information”. The word process
suggests that communication exists as a flow through a sequence or series of steps.

Communication is a dynamic interactive process that involves the effective transmission

of facts, ideas, thoughts, feelings, and values. It is not passive and does not just
happen. We actively and consciously engage in communication in order to develop the
information and understanding required for effective group functioning. It is dynamic
because it involves a variety of forces and activities interacting over a period of time.

TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION: DEFINITION

Technical communication may be defined as the transmission and reception of

facts, figures, ideas and all sorts of scientific and technical information by
professionals of various fields such as engineering, medicine, science, research,
education and space etc. Technical communication is of two types: -

a) Written – More formal and objective.

B) Oral – Less formal

ROLES OF COMMUNICATION
1) It increases interaction in a giant organization.

2) It helps in operating in global business organization.

3) Many companies operate in the international level.

4) This requires dealing with people of different language and culture.

5) Timely information.

6) To keep pace with a changing environment.

7) Better decision making.

8) Better human relations.

9) Achieving organizational goals.

 10) Better public relations.

11) Generations of better ideas.

12) Helpful as a motivational force.

PURPOSE OF TECHNICAL COMMUNICATION

• To inform the worker and officials about what they are supposed to do.
• To collect some information vital to making of a decision.
• To make enquiries, fix responsibilities, demand explanation and enforce
discipline.
• To advice or to seek advice.
• To appreciate a work or to express disapproval.

TYPES OF COMMUNICATION

VERBAL COMMUNICATION
Verbal communication occurs when we engage in speaking with others. It can be face-to-face,
over the telephone, via Skype or Zoom, etc. Some verbal engagements are informal, such as
chatting with a friend over coffee or in the office kitchen, while others are more formal, such as a
scheduled meeting. Regardless of the type, it is not just about the words, it is also about the
caliber and complexity of those words, how we string those words together to create an
overarching message, as well as the intonation (pitch, tone, cadence, etc.) used while speaking.
And when occurring face-to-face, while the words are important, they cannot be separated from
non-verbal communication.

NON-VERBAL COMMUNICATION
What we do while we speak often says more than the actual words. Non-verbal communication
includes facial expressions, posture, eye contact, hand movements, and touch. For example, if
you’re engaged in a conversation with your boss about your cost-saving idea, it is important to
pay attention to both the their words and their non-verbal communication. Your boss might be in
agreement with your idea verbally, but their nonverbal cues: avoiding eye contact, sighing,
scrunched up face, etc. indicate something different.

WRITTEN COMMUNICATION
Whether it is an email, a memo, a report, a Facebook post, a Tweet, a contract, etc. all forms of
written communication have the same goal to disseminate information in a clear and concise
manner – though that objective is often not achieved. In fact, poor writing skills often lead to
confusion and embarrassment, and even potential legal jeopardy. One important thing to
remember about written communication, especially in the digital age, is the message lives on,
perhaps in perpetuity. Thus, there are two things to remember: first, write well – poorly
constructed sentences and careless errors make you look bad; and second, ensure the content
of the message is something you want to promote or be associated with for the long haul.

LISTENING
The act of listening does not often make its way onto the list of types of communication. Active
listening, however, is perhaps one of the most important types of communication because if we
cannot listen to the person sitting across from us, we cannot effectively engage with them. Think
about a negotiation – part of the process is to assess what the opposition wants and needs.
Without listening, it is impossible to assess that, which makes it difficult to achieve a win/win
outcome.

VISUAL COMMUNICATION
We are a visual society. Think about it, televisions are running 24/7, Facebook is visual with memes,
videos, images, etc., Instagram is an image-only platform, and advertisers use imagery to sell products
and ideas. Think about from a personal perspective – the images we post on social media are meant to
convey meaning – to communicate a message. In some cases that message might be, look at me, I’m in
Italy or I just won an award. Others are carefully curated to tug on our heartstrings – injured animals,
crying children, etc.
We communicate continually throughout each and every day. We do it without thinking – we operate on
communication autopilot. However, I encourage you to think about how you communicate. How do you
communicate verbally? What nonverbal cues do you use when you are disinterested? Excited? Nervous?
Are you a good listener? Can you write a concise, clearly articulated message? Are there barriers to how
you communicate effectively?

Understanding how you communicate is the first step to communicating more effectively. You can easily
look online for communication courses. There are a variety of credit and non-credit course available to
help you improve your communication skills, including our non-credit series.

THE FLOW OF COMMUNICATION

DOWNWARD, UPWARD, LATERAL OR HORIZONTAL, DIAGONAL

Formal channel of communication is multi-dimensional. Information flows in different

directions.
The various directions or FLOW of communication are as follows: -

(i) DOWNWARD COMMUNICATION

Downward communication means flow of information from higher levels to lower levels in the
organizational hierarchy. Information flows from top-most authority to the bottommost persons
(workers) through various levels. This flow of information generally prevails where autocratic
style of management is dominant.
Contents of Information: The following information generally flows in downward direction:
• How to do a job.
• Rationale for doing those jobs.
• Policies and practices of organisation.
• Performance level of employees.
• The need to develop a sense of mission.
Forms of Downward Communication:
Downward communication can be oral or written. Oral communication can be through speeches,
telephone, face-to-face interaction or meetings. Written communication takes place through
letters, hand books, pamphlets, posters, bulletins, annual reports, policy statements, notices,
circulars etc. Written form of downward communication is used when confidential matters are to
be reported which requires documentary evidence.
Merits of Downward Communication: Downward communication has the following
merits:
1). It provides information regarding organizational plans and policies.
2). It informs employees about the rationale of organizational goals and how they can
coordinate these goals with personal goals.
3). It enables employees to know their area of discretion. They know what is expected of
them and perform within those constraints.
4). It increases job satisfaction and morale of employees to perform better.
Limitations of Downward Communication: Downward communication suffers from the
following limitations:
1). Information distortion – In large-sized organisations, information flows through a
number of levels. It is possible that by the time it reaches the lowest unit in the
organizational hierarchy, the message received is different from what is sent. The
message is screened at various levels.
2). Information gaps – Oral information often gets lost in transit. A part of the
information is retained at some level and gets filled by some unintended information
at another level. Messages are encoded and decoded according to people’s
perception. Researches have shown that in some cases, information up to about
eighty per cent gets lost on the way.
3). Time consuming – If organizational hierarchy has too many levels, it takes time for
information to reach the person concerned. Sometimes, information reaches after the
desired action has already been taken.
4). Incomplete transmission – Sometimes, managers withhold part of the information and
transmit incomplete information so that subordinates remain dependent upon them
for information.
5). Employees cannot perform effectively with incomplete information. This may affect
superior-subordinate relationships.
Note: - These limitations do not undermine the importance of downward communication. Proper
feedback of information from lower to higher levels can help managers overcome the limitations
of downward communication.
(ii) UPWARD COMMUNICATION
Flow of information from lower levels to higher levels is known as upward communication.
Employees respond to managers’ directions and instructions through upward communication.
This flow of communication is suitable where democratic or participative style of management is
prevalent.
Contents of Information: The following information generally flows in upward direction:

• Reports about subordinates’ work, achievements, progress and future plans.

• Subordinates’ work problems which need the assistance of supervisors.
• Ideas or suggestions offered by subordinates to improve the working of any
unit or organisation as a whole.

• Subordinates’ perception about their work, work environment and co-workers.

Forms of Upward Communication: Upward communication can take place
through media like suggestions, appeals, meetings, grievance procedures,
open door policy (subordinates can approach top managers directly by-
passing some of the hierarchical levels), complaint system, questionnaires,
group meetings etc.
Merits of Upward Communication: Upward communication has the following merits:
1). Managers receive feedback from lower levels that helps in carrying out the
controlling function.
2). It helps in knowing attitude of employees towards corporate goals and plans for
effective implementation of plans.
3). It increases employees’ morale and motivation to work. When employees know
their grievances, ideas and suggestions are considered by top managers, they feel
morally committed to their work.
4). It provides managers with creative ideas and suggestions from subordinates.
5). It strengthens superior-subordinate relationships and creates harmonious
industrial relations.
6). It overcomes resistance to change on the part of employees as they can present
their fears and apprehensions upwards.
Limitations of Upward Communication: Upward communication suffers from the
following limitations:
1). Filtration – As in downward communication, substantial part of information gets
filtered when it flows upward. In upward communication, each subordinate level
filters that part of information which may present unfavourable picture to the
superiors.
2). Time consuming – Too many levels in the official chain of command delay
transmission of information.
3). Fears and apprehensions – Subordinates do not always report the matters upward
the way they want. When they know that the news is not what the boss wants to
hear, they do not transmit it at all. They may even distort or edit the information
before transmitting it upwards. Thus, the information passed is not what is true but
what the boss wants to hear.
4). Attitude of superiors – Sometimes superiors do not listen to the juniors. Most of
what is said by lower levels goes unheard at the top levels. The very purpose of
upward communication, in such cases, gets defeated.
5). Low effectiveness – When employees approach top managers by-passing some
links in the scalar chain, it avoids filtration of information but those who are
surpassed may feel morally affected. This strains the superior-subordinate
relationships and hampers the effectiveness of further transmission.
Note: - Upward communication is an effective dimension of communication. Managers must
improve the upward flow of interaction. They should be willing to listen to employees. They
should specify the type of information that should flow upwards. Every matter should not be
reported to top managers. Only important information that needs their attention and action
should flow upwards. Informal channels of communication can increase the efficiency of upward
communication. Use of suggestion schemes, grievances procedures, periodic reports,
committees, open door policy etc. are helpful in this regard.
(iii) HORIZONTAL OR LATERAL COMMUNICATION
Flow of information amongst people at the same level is known as horizontal communication. It
is interaction amongst peer groups. Most common horizontal communication is communication
between functional heads. Marketing manager and production manager constantly interact with
each other to coordinate demand with production schedules.
It takes place between:
• Members of a particular work group.
• Members of different work groups.
• Members of different departments operating at the same level.
• Members of line and staff.
Note: - It does not follow the official chain of command but cuts across it.
Objectives of Horizontal/Lateral Communication: Horizontal communication serves the
following purposes: -
1). It coordinates work assignments carried out by different departments.
2). It helps to share information about organizational plans and policies.
3). It helps to solve organizational problems.
4). It develops common understanding amongst all the organizational members.
5). It conciliates, negotiates and arbitrates differences arising on account of
cultural and attitudinal factors amongst employees.
6). It develops interpersonal support amongst people of different units.

Forms of Horizontal Communication:

Horizontal communication can be oral and written. Oral communication takes place amongst
people of the same level—when they meet during lunch break, after office hours, discussions in
meetings and conferences or talk over telephone. Written communication takes place through
reports, bulletins, boards, letters, memos, reports etc.
Merits of Horizontal Communication: Horizontal communication has the following merits:
1). It helps to review activities assigned to people working at identical positions.
2). It speeds up the flow of work.
3). It facilitates problem-solving amongst members at their level and integrates
the work.
 4). It develops trust and confidence amongst people of different departments.
5). It provides job satisfaction to employees and boosts their morale to improve
performance.
6). It relieves top managers of the burden of solving problems at the work place, if
workers can solve them on their own. It, thus, settles inter-departmental and
intradepartmental differences at the place of origin.
7). It solves common problems of people and creates teamwork.
Limitations of Horizontal Communication: Horizontal communication suffers from the
following limitations:
1). Personal biases – Personal likes and dislikes amongst members of work
groups can obstruct free flow of information.
2). Specialisation – In the modern era, functional heads are highly specialized in
managing activities of their departments and they lack specialised knowledge
of other functional areas. This affects communication at the horizontal level.
For example, marketing manager may not be knowing much about sources
and uses of funds, financial management and capitalization. He will not be
able to effectively communicate with the finance manager on matters related
to finance.
3). Perceptions and attitudes – Differences in perceptions and attitudes of
functional heads can be counter-productive in horizontal communication.
Functional managers may look at the same problem from different angles. If
CEO of the company directs functional heads to cut down costs, finance
managers may want marketing manager to cut selling costs, while marketing
manager may want production manager to cut production costs. Inter-
departmental conflicts can arise and the objective will not be achieved.
Note: - The problems mentioned above should overcome by supporting heads and members of
various work groups to promote healthy communication amongst them. While superiors allow
information to flow horizontally in the organisation, they should ensure that subordinates do not
violate the limits of authority. The subordinates should keep the superiors informed of whatever
interaction takes place amongst the peer groups.
(iv) DIAGONAL OR CROSS-WISE COMMUNICATION
Flow of information amongst people of different departments at different levels is known as
diagonal communication. When regional sales manager talks to workers of finance or production
department, diagonal communication is said to have taken place. People who are generally not in
contact, come close to each other through diagonal communication.
Forms of Diagonal Communication:
Diagonal communication can be oral and written. Oral communication takes place in meetings,
conferences, project teams etc. Written communication takes place through magazines, bulletins,
boards, notices, circulars etc.
Merits of Diagonal Communication: Diagonal communication offers the following merits:
1). It increases efficiency and speed of work. People can directly talk to each
other without following the formal chain of command.
2). It boosts morale and commitment of employees to work as they can directly
talk to the managers.
3). It coordinates the activities of various departments as they can interact with
each other.
4). It provides job satisfaction to employees.
Limitations of Diagonal Communication: Diagonal communication suffers from the following
limitations:
1). Violation of chain of command – Information cuts across all levels and all
departments. There is complete violation of chain of command.
2). Attitudinal problems – When manager of sales department talks directly with
workers of production department, production manager may feel offended about the same. This
can affect relationship with workers of his department. Note: - Diagonal communication
increases the efficiency of organizational activities as every information cannot be passed
through vertical lines of communication. Best use of diagonal communication can be made when
cross relationships are cordial and subordinates keep the line superiors informed of their
interactions with people of other departments.
 BARRIERS TO COMMUNICATION
The term “barrier” means hurdles, hindrance and obstacles. Thus, barrier to communication
imply hurdles or obstacles on the way of transmission of message from the sender to the receiver.

Types of Barriers

1). Physical and Mechanical Barriers:

a). Noise: Noise though of varying degree, disturbs or interferes with communication.
E.g. Noise of heavy traffic and human sound.
b). Distance: Long distance between sender and receiver often resorts to disturbance
in telephone connection.
c). Time: Time refers to the reaching of message. If an important message reaches late
it is sure to affect communication.
d). Information Overload: If much more information is transmitted to receiver then
he cannot pass it due to lot of confusion.
e). Physical Barriers: Poor lightning, too cold or thundering weather etc. lead to
physical obstruction in communication.
f). Use of words with different meanings: E.g. The word “tube” may mean tube,
cycle tube or water tube which may be taken differently by different persons.
g). Denotations and Connotations: The literal meaning of words is known as
Denotation. E.g. pen, book, chair and table. Connotative words like honest,
punctual and cheap arouse qualitative judgments. Mostly denotation should be
used.
2). Language or Semantic barriers:
a). Unclear Message: Lack of clarity and poor expressions phases etc leads to poor
understanding of message.
b). Words or symbols with multiple meanings: A word may have several meanings
but that expression should made which is understood as it is by receiver.
Example: The word “value” may be expressed in different ways: -

• We value our customer.

 • The value of this book is Rs 100.

c). Technical words or jargons: Specialists and technical experts always use technical
language but common man cannot understand it. So too much use of jargons should
be avoided.
d). Faulty translation: Sometimes instructions originally drafted in a language need to
be translated in a language understood by workers (Hindi) or else they won’t be
able to draw the meaning out of it.
e). Unclarified Assumptions: Sometimes messages are based on certain assumptions
which are subject to different interpretations. E.g. Take care of your guest. One
may take care of only few problems but some other may do it right from vehicles to
lodging and food.
f). Body language and Gesture: Along with verbal communication, body language
should also mean the same or else it will obstruct the proper meaning.
3). Socio Psychological Barriers:
a). Difference in perception: Due to the differencing experience, education and
culture, the two people perceive the same information in a different way and it
creates problem.
b). Difference in attitude: If the message is consistent with our attitude, we tend to
like it otherwise dislikes it. E.g. A news of salary hike will please mood of the
employees while the implantation of new machinery will disappoint many of the
employees.
c). Emotions: How the receiver feels at the time of receipt of information, affects a lot
on how he interprets the information. E.g. If the receiver feels that the
communicator is in jovial, he interprets that the information being sent by the
communicator to be interesting.
d). Inattention: If receiver or sender and of them does not pay attention on what the
other person is saying, it will obstruct communication.
e). Closed Minds: Both the sender and receiver should be open minded while listening
to each other or else it will cause misunderstanding and misinterpretations.
f). Pre mature evaluation: Some people form a judgment before receiving the full
information which becomes a barrier in effective communication.
 g). Distrust: If the sender and receiver both do not trust each other, none of them can
communicate effectively with other.
h). Resistance to change: When new ideas are communicated, most of the people do
not filter them or resist them. It works as a barrier to communication.
i). Cultural Differences: People with different cultures have different meanings of
different signs, symbols and assumptions. So, in communication, while
communicating by a person by one culture may be interpreted differently by the
receiver of other culture. E.g. thumb up means all the best in one culture but a kind
of disrespect in some other culture.
4). Organizational Barrier:
a). Status Relationship: Organizational structure creates a number of status levels in
the organization (e.g. CEO and supervisor). If the upper and higher level/state does
not share a good relationship communication between them will be obstructed.
b). One-way flow: When sender and receiver both in the organization don’t participate
in communication, it will not be effective.
c). Complex Organizational Structure:
• several layers of supervision

• long communication lines

• organizational distance between workers and top managers These many

formalities may create problems in communication.
d). Rigid rules and regulations: Lots of Do’s and Don’ts obstruct the communication
flow.
e). Distance Barriers: If the receiver is too far in an organizational structure, sender
avoids communicating.
5.) Personal Barriers:
a). Attitude of superiors: If the attitude of superiors is fine, there is no problem in
communication but if the attitude is unfavorable, there is a greater possibility that
messages would not flow adequately from/or to superior.
b). Lack of confidence in subordinates: When the subordinates are less competent or
less confident, they don’t flow information upwards.
 c). Insistence of proper channel: That means when superiors do not like by passing
any information in order to prove their own importance, it obstructs communication.
d). Ignoring Communication: Sometimes even superiors do not like to communicate
properly with subordinates as to maintain status, it creates problems.
e). Filtering of Information: Sometimes the sender intentionally screens the
information for passing only such information which will look favorable to the receiver.
f). Shortage of time: “No time”, “lack of time” etc. phases are used by superiors and
they do not communicate properly.
g). Barriers in Subordinates: Following barriers in subordinates act as barrier to
communication: -
• They dislike showing mistakes.

• People generally resist new ideas.

• Unwillingness to communicate upward a message on personal grounds.

• Lack of incentives and encouragement.

• They suppress information relating to their failure.

h). Miscellaneous Barriers: Sometimes sheer fear and distrust may effective
communication flow badly. Sometimes the sender may fear of the consequence of
passing the information by making a preconception and it acts like a barrier.

7 C’S OF COMMUNICATION
1) Completeness: Every communication must be complete and adequate. Incomplete
messages keep the receiver guessing, create misunderstanding and delay action. Every
person should therefore, be provided with all the required facts and figures.
E.g. when the factory supervisor instructs workers to produce, he must specify the exact
size, shape, quality and cost of the product.
2) Conciseness: It means that in business communication you should be brief and be able
to say whatever you have to say in fewest possible words.
3) Clarity: The message must be put in simple terms to ensure clarity. Words must mean
the same thing to the receiver as they do to the sender.
 4) Correctness: The term correctness as applied to business messages means bright level
of language and accuracy of facts, figures and words. If the information is not correctly
conveyed the sender will lose credibility.
5) Consideration: Consideration means preparing the message with the intended receiver
in the mind. In order to communicate effectively, the sender should think and look
from the receiver’s angle, i.e. adopting a humane approach and understanding the
emotions and sentiments of the receiver.
6) Concreteness: It means be specific, definite and vivid (clear) rather than vague (not
clear) and general. In oral communication, we can’t draw the tables, diagrams and
graphs to make our statement vivid which is relevant with facts and figures.
7) Courtesy: Courtesy and politeness stems from a sincere youth attitude. It is not merely
politeness with mechanical insertions of please and thank you. Although applying
socially accepted manner. Rather, it is politeness that grows out of respect and concern
for other.

CODE AND CONTENT

Any human communication system involves the production of a message by someone, and the
receipt of that message by someone else. To encode a message, one must possess the necessary
encoding skills.

The communication code is a set of signs that, when combined, fulfil the function of being able
to transmit the message sent by the sender and that must be understandable to the receiver. That
is, when we talk about communication, the code is the language in which the message is
transmitted. The sender encodes this information so that it reaches the receiver and is the one that
performs the decoding process to understand it.

For this reason, it is vitally important that both elements, sender and receiver, know and handle
the same code during communication.

Languages are codes: - A code may be defined as any group of symbols that can be structured in
a way that is meaningful to another person. The English language, like any other language, is a
code—it contains elements that are arranged in a meaningful order. A code has a group of
elements (vocabulary) and a set of procedures for combining these elements meaningfully
(syntax).

Next is the message content, i.e., the message that is selected by the source to express its
purpose. Content, like codes, has both element and structure. When more than one piece of
information is to be presented, they should have some order or structure. An individual may
sometimes be identified by his characteristic way of structuring messages. This is because the
individual communicates in a way that is distinctive to him. He uses a distinctive way or method,
which has become his habit by constant use.

STIMULUS & RESPONSE

These two terms, stimulus and response are connected with the whole learning process. The
communication objective of the source is to bring about a change in the behaviour of the
receiver. Humans interact continually with natural and artificial environments. They process
stimulus information, decide what actions to take on the basis of that information, execute those
actions, and receive new stimulus information as a consequence. Because decision, or response
election, processes play a central role in the continual interaction between perception and action,
it is necessary to understand how these processes operate and what factors influence their
duration and accuracy. Such understanding is important from a practical as well as a theoretical
perspective, because a slow or incorrect decision can have disastrous consequences.

Stimulus and response are the two terms that are frequently used in any discussion on the
communication process. A ‘stimulus’ is anything that a person can receive through one of his
senses. In fact, it is anything that can produce a sensation. And a ‘response’ is anything that an
individual does as a reaction to the stimulus.
VOWEL AND CONSONANT SOUNDS

CONSONANT SOUNDS: A consonant sound may be defined as a speech sound that is

produced with stoppage of air. For example, to say the word ‘paper’ our lips try to stop air from
passing through while producing the sound ‘p’. Thus, the voice or breath in consonants is
partially hindered by the tongue, teeth, lips, or other organs of articulation. There are twenty four
consonant sounds in English. These consonant sounds are classified according to the nature of
constriction as plosives, affricates, nasal consonants, lateral consonants, and fricatives.
VOWEL SOUNDS: Unlike a consonant sound, a vowel sound is unobstructed in articulation by
the tongue, teeth, or lips. During the articulation of a vowel sound, the active articulator is raised
towards the passive articulator in such a way that there is a sufficient gap between the two for air
to escape through the mouth without friction. For example, when speaking the word ‘art’, air
escapes freely and continuously without any friction while pronouncing the first sound ‘AH’.

There are twenty vowel sounds. Vowel sounds are classified as pure vowels and diphthongs.
There are twelve pure vowels and eight diphthongs. Pure vowels are further classified as long
vowels and short vowels.
(ALSO SEE HANDWRITTEN UNIT 5 NOTES FOR BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF
VOWEL AND CONSONANT SOUNDS)
TONE:

A tone is the kind of sound you hear in a musical note, or in a person's voice. It is also defined as
a pitch or change in pitch of the voice that serves to distinguish words in tonal languages. And
pitch, in speech is the relative highness or lowness of a tone as perceived by the ear, which
depends on the number of vibrations per second produced by the vocal cords.

Falling Tone: The pitch of our voice falls on the tonic syllable in a falling tone. We use the
falling tone in ordinary statements (assertive sentences, including both affirmative and negative,
without any implication), wh-questions (questions beginning with a wh-word, such as what,
when, where, and so on), polite expressions, greetings, imperative sentences (commands,
prohibitions, and so forth), and exclamatory sentences.
Rising Tone The pitch of our voice rises on the tonic syllable in a rising tone. We use a rising
tone in polite questions, conditional expressions, polite requests, direct questions (requiring
yes/no answers), and incomplete utterances.

Prepared By:

Ms AQSA ANSARI

ASSISTANT PROFESSOR

DEPARTMENT OF CSE