Exploring Intonations in Sesame Street’s Puppet Shows: A Phonological Perspective

Abstract

Intonation is a primary aspect in phonology, particularly in the supra-segmental area. Intonation carries meaning and changing the intonation of an utterance can quickly change the meaning of that utterance. This research aims to discover the patterns of intonation used in Sesame Street's puppet show and identify how interpersonal meaning is constructed on the show. This research was conducted from a phonology perspective and using the qualitative method. This research concentrates on phonology, mainly the supra-segmental area that is intonation. The focus of this study was on the relation between intonation patterns (tonality, tonicity, and tone) and interpersonal meaning. The website of Sesame Street was the source of Primary data for this study, as well as the puppet show's episode "Alphabet Race" (from Season 38). This research involved the researchers as its major instrument for analysing the data. In the process of collecting data, the researchers did documentation. This analysis finds the different division of the information between the systemic functional grammar level and the intonation level, which is shown from the clauses and tone units found in the show. The findings of this research provide teachers and EFL learners with further insight into how utterances deal with their intonation.