English is a Tonal Language

Proper intonation by foreign speakers is a major stumbling block for English learners. Many students pronounce every word perfectly, but their intonation is terrible and their pausing is random; often inappropriate, and it's hard to understand them. Other students don't pronounce their vocabulary well but they understand the different characteristics of natural speech in terms of reductions, linking and intonation. While they're not saying each individual word perfectly, their use within sentences is perfect. They understand the linking, they understand the pausing, they use their intonation to get the maximum impact of effectively conveyed meaning. Using correct intonation is like adding an entire book’s worth of new vocabulary words. English isn't considered a tonal language, but it's far more tonal than people realize.