Wh-Questions Fall, Yes/No Questions Rise

Questions that start with a question word — 'what', 'where', 'why', 'how' — usually end with a falling pitch in American English, almost like a statement: 'Where are you going?' with the voice dropping on 'going.' Questions that can be answered with just yes or no, though, typically rise at the end: 'Are you coming?' with pitch climbing on 'coming.' Applying the rising pattern to every question, which is common for Turkish speakers used to a single rising question intonation, can make wh-questions sound surprised, confused, or oddly intense rather than neutral. Try this: say 'What's your name?' with a clear fall at the end, then say 'Is this your name?' with a clear rise. Practice three more pairs the same way — one wh-question, one yes/no question — exaggerating the direction each time. This one distinction affects dozens of everyday questions, so a little focused practice now goes a long way toward sounding calm and natural instead of overly intense.