Unstressed or partially stressed syllables which precede the head are called the pre-head. In short intonation groups where there is no head and these syllables precede the nucleus they are called the pre-nucleus. There are two types of pre-head or pre-nucleus: low and high.
- If unstressed or partially stressed syllables are pronounced lower than the first stressed syllable of the head, the pre-head is called low. In low pre-nucleus these syllables are lower than the start of the nuclear tone, eg: I don’t ↘want to ‘go to the ˎcinema(the low pre-head) I don’t ˎwant it(the low pre-nucleus) The Low Pre-Head may occur before any head 'and the Low Pre-Nucleus is usually heard before all the nuclear tones.
- If unstressed or partially stressed syllables are pronounced higher or on the same level as the first stressed syllable of the head the pre-head is called high. In High Pre-Nucleus these syllables are higher than the start of the nuclear tone or on the same level. eg:ˉI don’t ↘want to ‘go to the ˎcinema (the high pre-head) ˉI don’t ‘want it(the high pre-nucleus) The High Pre-Head usually occurs before descending and high or medium level heads. The High Pre-Nucleus can be heard before almost any nuclear tone.
