内容简介

你可能已经掌握了 “tag questions（反意疑问句）” 这种特殊句式的结构，比如主句和句尾的肯定和否定形式需要相反。不过，你是否知道在口语中，反意疑问句的语调也至关重要，它甚至能直接影响整句话的含义？听本期节目，跟主持人步理和 Georgie 学习在口语中使用反意疑问句时，不同语调之间的区别和用法。

文字稿

（关于台词的备注: 请注意这不是广播节目的逐字稿件。本文稿可能没有体现录制、编辑过程中对节目做出的改变。）

Buli
大家好，欢迎收听 BBC 英语教学的 “你问我答” 节目。This is Question and Answer of the Week, where we answer your questions about English language, culture and life. I'm Buli and I'm here with Georgie. Lovely weather today, isn't it?

Georgie
It's gorgeous, although I think it's meant to rain later, isn't it?

Buli
Probably… We do live in the UK! Now Georgie, you are here to help me answer this week's question, aren't you?

Georgie
Yes. This one's all about question tags, which is when you turn a statement into a question by adding a tag at the end. Like when you said, 'Lovely weather today, isn't it?' The listener who sent in this question knows about the structure of question tags, but they're interested in the pronunciation. Let's hear the question.

Question
Hi. I have a question about tag questions. How about its intonation in spoken English? In real conversations, both fallen and rising intonations can be heard. Are there any general rules for the intonation of question tags? Do different intonations in question tags imply different intentions from the speaker? Thank you.

Buli
这位听众发现，人们在口语中使用反意疑问句时，有时句尾的语调会上扬，有时却会下降。因此他们想知道反意疑问句中的 “question tag（疑问句尾）” 的不同语调有什么区别，是否会影响句子的含义。

Georgie
So, you are right that question tags have different intonations. A falling intonation is when your voice goes down at the end, for example, 'Lovely weather today, isn't it?'

Buli
And a rising intonation is when your voice goes up at the end, for example, 'I think it's meant to rain later, isn't it?'

大家可能已经注意到了，刚才我和 Georgie 在说 “isn't” 的时候分别使用了不同的语调，并且这两个句子中的反意疑问句所暗示出的含义确实有些不同。简单来说，语调上扬的疑问句通常代表真正的提问，也就是说说话者很可能并不知道问题的答案，正在询问他人。That's right, isn't it Georgie?

Georgie
Yes. Like what you just did there. You used a rising intonation because you weren't sure, so you were genuinely asking me. But now try saying the same thing but with a falling intonation.

Buli
That's right, isn't it Georgie?

Georgie
Yes. That time, you were pretty sure of the answer, but you just wanted to check. The falling intonation makes you sound more certain. Another example is what you said at the beginning.

Buli
是的。在节目一开始，我对你说 “Georgie, you're here to help me answer this week's question, aren't you?” 在这句话中，我用了降调，意思就是 “我认为自己知道这个问题的答案，只是在寻求你的同意或认可”。不过，在反意疑问句中下降的语调还有一个其它的用法。Now, there's something else we can use a falling intonation for, isn't there?

Georgie
Yes, Buli, you're right. We can use tag questions with a falling intonation to start a conversation. You did that at the start when you said, 'Lovely weather today, isn't it?'

Buli
是的。其实我并不是对天气的好坏有所疑问，只是想用这种方式来寒暄一下，开启一段对话。

除了天气，我们也可以用其它共同话题来构成反意疑问句，向他人搭话。比如，“Georgie, how have you been lately? You're training for a half marathon, aren't you?”

Georgie
I'm well, thanks! Yes, I've been running a lot. Long distances are hard, but I find that the training has been really helping me, and…

Buli
你正在收听的是 BBC 英语教学制作的 “你问我答” 节目。在本期节目中，我们正在学习使用反意疑问句时句尾不同的语调所表达出的不同意思和作用。

Georgie
OK, Buli, let's have a little practice. I'll use a question tag, and you and the listeners can decide if I'm sure or unsure by listening to the intonation. Ready?

Buli
I'm ready. Let's go.

Georgie
The Sun rises in the east, doesn't it?

Buli
OK… you sound unsure because you used a rising intonation. So, you're asking a genuine question because you want to find out the answer. Next question!

Georgie
The Sun rises in the east, doesn't it?

Buli
Well, that time you used a falling intonation because you're fairly sure of the answer, but you just wanted to check. The Sun does rise in the east, by the way!

Georgie
OK, last one. Buli, you really like living in Cambridge, don't you?

Buli
I do! OK, so that time, you used a falling intonation to start a conversation. Sounds like you want to know my experience living in Cambridge.
 
Georgie
I do. Great! Well done, Buli.

Buli
最后，让我们来总结一下。在口语中使用反意疑问句时，我们可以通过句尾不同的语调来表达不同的意思。其中，上扬的语调通常表示说话者确实想要知道一个问题的答案，而下降的语调则代表说话者很可能知道问题的答案，想要获得他人的确认或认可。除此之外，我们也可以用反意疑问句搭配下降的语调和一个比较轻松的话题来和他人寒暄，开启一段对话。

Georgie
If you have a question that you'd like us to answer, you can email us too at: questions.chinaelt@bbc.co.uk

Buli
你也可以通过微博向我们提问。我们的微博账号是 “BBC英语教学”。Bye!

Georgie
Goodbye!