Intonation: old information/new information

Notice that intonation in WH questions can change when we are talking about old information, e.g. the first time we ask somebody's name, we ask: ‘What’s your name? This is new information. But ifI then forget the name and ask again, I ask: ‘What's your name?’ because I am asking about old information that has already been given. The intonation goes up to show that this is something we have already shared.

Listen to Winona. later in the day, asking Virginia some questions about information they had shared.

Where were the squirrels exactly?

What time did you say you had lunch?

Why did you walk quickly?

This is all old information that Virginia and Winona had already shared so the intonation goes up.

Now listen to Winona asking for new information.

What did you both talk about?

When did you arrange the meeting?

Listen and mark whether these questions are old information or new information. The first two have been done as examples.

1. What did you say you drank? old information

2. What colour did you wear? new information

3. What did Victor say?

4. Why did you walk quickly?

5. What did Victor wear?

6. Where did you go with Victor?