Etymology of Tone
The term “tone” originates from the Old French word ton and the Latin word tonus. Both mean a sound or a pitch.
The root of the word goes back to the Greek word tonos. It means tension or stretching. The concept of tone has been in use for music and language for centuries. However, now it has evolved to encompass a range of meanings in different contexts.
Meanings of Tone
- Musical Tone: In music, tone refers to a musical sound or note produced by a specific frequency.
- Instrumental Distinction: In instrumental music, it also signifies the quality of sound that distinguishes one instrument or voice from another.
- Linguistic Tone: In linguistics, tone pertains to the pitch or melody of a word or phrase, especially in tonal languages like Mandarin Chinese where different tones alter word meaning.
- Literary Tone: In literature, tone represents the attitude or mood conveyed by the author through word choice, sentence structure, and expression. It can be formal, informal, sarcastic, humorous, or other emotional nuances.
- General Usage: In everyday language, tone is used to describe the quality or mood of something in writing, such as characterizing a speech as having a positive or negative tone.
Tone in Grammar
- Context-Dependent Usage: The use of the word “tone” in grammar depends on the context in which it is used.
- Singular Noun: In some contexts, “tone” functions as a singular noun. For instance, “The tone of this story is serious” uses “tone” as a singular noun to describe the overall mood or attitude of the story.
- Plural Noun: In other contexts, “tone” can function as a plural noun when the context demands it. For example, “He has used different tones for this composition” uses “tones” as a plural noun to refer to various qualities or aspects of sound or writing style within the composition.
Definition of Tone
Tone, as a literary device, refers to the quality or character of a sound or voice, often used to convey emotions or moods. It also refers to the attitude or mood conveyed by an author or speaker through their choice of words and expressions.
Types of Tone
| Type of Tone | Explanation | Examples from Literature or Music |
| Formal | It is a serious, professional, and polite tone used in academic or business contexts. | “The scientific report presented a rigorous analysis of the data.” |
| Informal | It is a casual, conversational, and relaxed used in social or personal contexts. | “Hey, what’s up? Let’s hang out later!” |
| Optimistic | It is a hopeful and positive used to inspire or encourage others. | “Believe in yourself and you can achieve anything you set your mind to.” |
| Pessimistic | It is a negative and cynical expressing a lack of hope or faith. | “The world is doomed, and nothing can change that.” |
| Sarcastic | It is a mocking or ironic used to express the opposite of what is meant. | “Oh, great! Another meeting. Just what I needed.” |
| Humorous | It is a funny or amusing used to entertain or lighten the mood. | “Why don’t scientists trust atoms? Because they make up everything!” |
| Angry | It is hostile or aggressive used to express frustration or anger. | “How dare you speak to me like that! I won’t tolerate it!” |
| Sympathetic | It is compassionate and understanding used to express empathy or support. | “I know it’s tough, but I’m here for you. You’re not alone.” |
| Formality | It is stiff or distant when used to maintain social distance or show respect. | “Your Highness, it is an honor to be in your presence.” |
| Romantic | It is passionate, loving, and emotion when used in love letters or poetry. | “Your eyes are like stars, shining brightly in the night sky.” |
Literary Examples of Tone
The tone of this novel is rebellious as the main character Holden Caulfield grapples with issues of identity, conformity, and loss. For example, here Holden expresses his frustration with society’s expectations: “They kept telling you to look at the back of the guy’s neck in front of you. I swear if there’s ever another war, they better just take me out and stick me in front of a firing squad.”
The tone of this story is ominous and foreboding as the seemingly innocent tradition of a small town’s annual lottery takes a dark and violent turn. For example, in the following passage, the mood becomes tense as the townspeople begin to gather for the lottery: “The villagers kept their distance, leaving a space between themselves and the stool, and when Mr. Summers said, ‘Some of you fellows want to give me a hand?’”
The tone of this poem by Dylan Thomas is urgent and passionate. Here the speaker implores his father to fight against death and hold on to life. For example, in the following stanza, the tone is fierce and defiant:
“Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.”
The tone of this play is melancholic and introspective, as the titular character grapples with issues of betrayal, revenge, and mortality. For example, in the following soliloquy, Hamlet expresses his despair and disillusionment when he says,
“To be, or not to be, that is the question:
Whether ‘tis nobler in the mind to suffer
The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,
Or to take arms against a sea of troubles.”
- To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee
The tone of this novel is nostalgic and bittersweet, as the narrator Scout looks back on her childhood and the racial injustices that shaped her community. For example, in the following passage, the tone is wistful as Scout reflects on the passage of time: “I never understood her preoccupation with heredity. Somewhere, I had received the impression that Fine Folks were people who did the best they could with the sense they had, but Aunt Alexandra was of the opinion obliquely expressed, that the longer a family had been squatting on one patch of land the finer it was.”
Suggested Readings
- Abrams, M. H. The Mirror and the Lamp: Romantic Theory and the Critical Tradition. Oxford University Press, 1971.
- Barthes, Roland. Image-Music-Text. Translated by Stephen Heath, Hill and Wang, 1977.
- Brooks, Cleanth. The Well Wrought Urn: Studies in the Structure of Poetry. Harcourt, Brace & World, 1947.
- Culler, Jonathan. Structuralist Poetics: Structuralism, Linguistics, and the Study of Literature. Routledge, 2002.
- Frye, Northrop. Anatomy of Criticism: Four Essays. Princeton University Press, 1957.
- Ransom, John Crowe. The World’s Body. Charles Scribner’s Sons, 1938.