摘要：The general functionality of intonation is characterised
by its ability to perform different functions
– representational, expressive (emotional),
appelative and stylistic.
From the viewpoint of the systematic analysis,
intonation is perceived as a whole of its separate
elements – intonation contours, intonation center,
syntagmatic segmentation and pause. The degree of
functionality of intonation and at the same time of
every system member is determined by the interaction
of all concrete linguistic elements (lexis, grammar,
intonation, and context). In one case intonation may
be the only means of content expression (e.g. model
type of a sentence), in other cases – content is best
conveyed by lexical-grammatical linguistic units.
The research has demonstrated that intonation
contours are characterized as having the greatest
functionality in the Lithuanian language. They are
able to perform the majority of functions attributed
to intonation as well as to be present in different situations
of speech act. Compared to other elements of
the system, intonation contours are distinguished by a
variety of non - emotional and emotional realizations
of utterances, frequency of use, function of affect
making as well as cases of intonation synonymy.
The carried out study has shown that the functional
possibilities of all seven contours differ - IKL-3 is
distinguished by the greatest possibilities of expression,
IKL-7 – the least possibilities of expression.
