Meaning & use
sing song speech pattern
Last updated
Meanings
phrasefixed phrase
A way of speaking in which the pitch rises and falls in a regular, musical way.
Grammar: Countable: you can say 'a sing-song speech pattern' or 'sing-song speech patterns'.
Patterns
- have a sing-song speech pattern
- speak in a sing-song speech pattern
- a sing-song speech pattern in someone's voice
Her sing-song speech pattern made the story sound like a lullaby.
Some regional accents have a gentle sing-song speech pattern that rises at the end of sentences.
The teacher's sing-song speech pattern kept the children interested.
phrasefixed phrasetechnicalmedical
A speech rhythm that may be a feature of certain neurological or developmental conditions.
Grammar: Often used in medical or specialist descriptions, e.g. 'associated with a sing-song speech pattern'.
Patterns
- associated with a sing-song speech pattern
- characterized by a sing-song speech pattern
In some neurological conditions, a sing-song speech pattern can be one of the first signs.
The therapist noted a sing-song speech pattern and suggested a hearing test.
Common combinations
- a sing-song speech pattern
- He spoke with a sing-song speech pattern that was easy to listen to.
- in a sing-song voice
- She read the poem in a sing-song voice.
- a rising sing-song pattern
- The dialect has a rising sing-song pattern at the end of questions.
- speak in a sing-song way
- The storyteller spoke in a sing-song way to hold our attention.
Synonyms and how they differ
- lilting speech
- Literary and positive; it suggests a pleasant, musical rhythm, while 'sing-song' can also suggest something monotonous.
- musical intonation
- More technical and neutral; it focuses on pitch changes rather than the whole pattern.
- chanting tone
- Suggests a more repetitive, almost religious rhythm, not a natural speech pattern.
Opposites
Word family
- sing-song adjective
- Having a rising and falling, musical sound.
- speech pattern noun
- The typical way a person or group speaks.
- intonation noun
- The rise and fall of the voice in speech.
Commonly confused: sing song speech pattern or sing-song?
sing song speech pattern vs sing-song
As a noun, 'sing-song' means an informal occasion where people sing together; as an adjective, it describes the musical speech rhythm.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase correctly?
Choose one answer.
A sing-song speech pattern is about rising and falling pitch in speech. A flat pattern is the opposite, and handwriting is not speech.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “sing song speech pattern”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.