Function of the gradually descending stepping scale in expressive speech of modern British English (based on feature films)

The article examines the occurrence of the gradually descending stepping scale in expressive speech of British English, based on modern feature films. The aim of the study is to provide evidence of the usage of the intonation scale in emphatic speech, as well as to identify the most common intonation patterns containing the gradually descending stepping scale and their emotional meanings. In the course of our study, we used comprehensive approach, that included a theoretical analysis of the issue under consideration, a contrastive analysis, an observation method and a method of experimental phonetic research of speech. The results obtained were compared with the data from the end of the20th century, which allowed us to determine the changes in the intonation of modern English. The research has shown that the gradually descending stepping scale is most often found in the combination with a high-wide fall. It is extreme-ly rare that this intonation scale is combined with a high-wide rise or with a contrasting rise-fall-rise. The results can be used in teaching English phonetics in higher education institutions.