was wotd|2007|September|12
English
Etymology
From term|monotony.
Pronunciation
i|RP IPA|/�m�n�t��n/
i|US IPA|/�m��n�to�n/
Adjective
en-adj
- context|of speech or a sound having a single unvaried pitch
#* 1799, John Walker, Elements of Elocution, Cooper and Wilson, page 309:
#*: It is no very difficult matter to be loud in a high tone of voice; but to be loud and forcible in a low tone, requires great practice and management; this, however, may be facilitated by pronouncing forcibly at firſt in a low monotone; a monotone, though in a low key, and without force, is much more ſonorous and audible than when the voice ſlides up and down at almoſt every word, as it muſt do to be various.
#* 1940, Asiatic Society (Calcutta, Royal Asiatic Society of Bengal, India), Journal of the Asiatic Society, page 95:
#*: The prominence of the syllables is more monotone than in English, the intonation of the latter having a larger variation of stressed and unstressed syllables.
#* 1998, Roger W. Shuy, Bureaucratic Language in Government and Business, Georgetown University Press, Research on Telephone vs. In-Person Administrative Hearings, page 76:
#*: In the formal register, such variation is reduced and the talk has a more monotone, business-like quality.
Translations
Swedish: monoton#Swedish|monoton
Russian: t|ru|моно�онн�й|tr=monotónnyj
Noun
en-noun
- A single unvaried tone of speech or a sound
#: When Tina felt like her parents were treating her like a servant, she would speak in monotone and act as though she were a robot.
Derived terms
monotonic
monotonous
monotony
French
Pronunciation
IPA|/m�n�t�n/
Adjective
fr-adj|f=monotone
- #English|Monotone
- Whose speech is monotone.
- Boring due to uniformity or lack of variety; monotonous.
Italian
Adjective
monotone f
- Feminine plural form of monotono
Category:Italian adjective forms
de:monotone
et:monotone
fr:monotone
io:monotone
hu:monotone
ja:monotone
pl:monotone
ru:monotone
sv:monotone
vi:monotone
tr:monotone
zh:monotone
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