V. Учебно-методический блок.

1. Study the theoretical material of Section VIII (p. 325-329) “Reduction of Functional Words in English”. Write out all unfamiliar words and translate them.

2. Write out the sentences which contain the word-combinations given below. Translate these sentences in written form.

• a need for special contrast

• weakening and reduction

• three groups

• at the beginning or in the middle

• some notional words

3. Compile a table which contains two columns:

1. Notional words in English

2. Functional words in English

4. Be ready to discuss the material at the lesson and to answer it in test form.

Вопросы для самоконтроля

I. Find out if the given below statements false or true. Find evidence in the rule that is given in your text-book. Try to sound logical and convincing. It is highly advisable to do this task in written form.

(!) Make use of the following words:

as is known it goes without sating if I’m not mistaken it is definitely wrong on the contrary

so, it follows that … it is logically follows … consequently I think it’s a strong argument that … it is necessary to emphasize that …

II. Find out if the statements true or false. Give evidence.

1. Form-words in English utterances are usually stressed.

2. In an unstressed position functional words are always reduced.

3. Auxiliary and modal verbs and prepositions are reduces when unstressed at the beginning or in the middle of an utterance, but retain their strong form at the end of an utterance.

4. In an unstressed position articles, the majority of conjunctions and pronouns are always reduced.

5. In the majority of cases form-words retain the full quality of their vowels.

6. There are some functional words which always retain their strong form in an unstressed position.

7. In an unstressed position the auxiliary verbs “have, has, had, do, does, is, are” are pronounced in the same way as the notional verbs “have, has, had, do, does, is, are”.

8. The demonstrative pronoun “that” and the conjunction “that” are never reduced.

9. The adverb of time “then” and the adverb of place “there” are notional words, that’s why they are never reduced in an unstressed position.

VI. Контрольный блок.

Test I /Theory/ Do it in a written form

Task I. Subdivide the given parts of speech into notional and functional.

1. articles

2. nouns

3. prepositions

4. verbs

5. conjunctions

6. adjectives

7. numerals

8. personal pronouns

9. adverbs

10. reflexive pronouns

11. indefinite pronouns

12. demonstrative pronouns

13. auxiliary verbs

14. modal verbs

Task II. Find correct variants and complete the given sentences.

1. The basic principle of utterance-stress in English is that …

1. form words are never stressed;

2. functional words are never stressed;

3. notional words are always stressed;

4. notional words are unstressed as a rule;

5. functional words are unstressed as a rule;

6. notional and functional words are equally apt to be stressed.

2. The list of functional (form-) words in English includes …

1. prepositions, articles, conjunctions; personal, possessive and indefinite pronouns;

2. articles, auxiliary and modal verbs, conjunctions; indefinite, personal and possessive pronouns;

3. articles, notional and modal verbs, conjunctions; indefinite, personal and possessive pronouns;

4. articles, auxiliary and modal verbs, conjunctions; demonstrative, personal and possessive pronouns;

5. modal verbs, pronouns, articles, conjunctions, adverbs;

6. articles, adjectives, auxiliary and modal verbs, conjunctions; indefinite, personal and possessive pronouns.

3. In an unstressed position in an utterance functional words …

1. always retain their full quality;

2. are not reduced as a rule;

3. may be weak in some cases and strong in others;

4. are always weakened and reduced;

5. in the majority of cases are not reduced;

6. behave in different way, i.e. some of them always undergo weakening and reduction, while others are never reduced; there are also form-words which are reduced in initial and middle position in an utterance but retain their full form in final position.

4. According to their pronunciation in an unstressed position functional words can be divided into … groups.

1. two;

2. three;

3. four;

4. five;

5. six;

6. many.

5. When unstressed auxiliary and modal verbs and prepositions …

1. are always reduced;

2. are never reduced;

3. retain their full form as a rule;

4. are reduced at the beginning or in the middle of an utterance, but retain their strong form in final position;

5. are reduced only when they occur at the end of an utterance;

6. are reduced in the middle of an utterance, but retain their strong form in initial and final position.

6. In an unstressed position articles, the majority of conjunctions, personal, possessive and indefinite pronouns …

1. are always reduced;

2. are never reduced;

3. retain their full form as a rule;

4. are reduced at the beginning or in the middle of an utterance, but retain their strong form in final position;

5. are reduced only when they occur at the end of an utterance;

6. are reduced in the middle of an utterance, but retain their strong form in initial and final position.

7. Words that retain their strong form regardless of stress or utterance position are found in list …

1. is, are, do, does, have, has, had (as main verbs)

when, what, where, why, how, though, so (conjunctions)

then, there, so (adverbs)

this, that, these, those, each (demonstrative pronouns)

on, off, in (prepositions)

some (in the meaning of “certain”)

2. is, are, do, does, have, has, had (as auxiliary verbs)

when, what, where, why, how, though, so (conjunctions)

then, there, so (adverbs)

this, that, these, those, each (demonstrative pronouns)

on, off, in (prepositions)

some (in the meaning of “certain”)

3. is, are, do, does, have, has, had (as main verbs)

when, what, where, why, how, though, so (conjunctions)

then, there, so (adverbs)

this, that, these, those, each (demonstrative pronouns)

from, for, of, to, at (prepositions)

some (in the meaning of “certain”)

4. is, are, do, does, have, has, had (as main verbs)

when, what, where, why, how, though, so (conjunctions)

then, there, so (adverbs)

this, that, these, those, each (demonstrative pronouns)

on, off, in (prepositions)

some (partitive)

5. is, are, do, does, have, has, had (as main verbs)

when, what, where, why, how, though, so (conjunctions)

then, there, so (adverbs)

he, she, you, me, her, us, them (pronouns)

on, off, in (prepositions)

some (in the meaning of “certain”)

6. is, are, do, does, have, has, had (as main verbs)

a, an, the (articles)

then, there, so (adverbs)

this, that, these, those, each (demonstrative pronouns)

on, off, in (prepositions)

some (in the meaning of “certain”)

Task III. The given below words are supposed to retain their strong form in an unstressed position. Write out the numbers of extra words.

1. on

2. any

3. off

4. of

5. in

6. if

7. from

8. then

9. there is

10. when

11. that (demonstrative pronoun)

12. that (conjunction)

13. than

14. the

15. but

Task IV. Cross out 3 extra words. Explain your choice.

A. 1. on

2. in

3. off

4. at

5. for

6. when

7. then

8. as

9. there (adverb)

B. 1. have

2. those

3. how

4. what

5. does

6. where

7. this

8. that (demonstrative pronoun)

9. are

C. 1. her

2. on

3. the

4. and

5. but

6. why

7. had (main verb)

8. than

9. some (= “certain”)

Task V. Find out if the statements true or false. Give evidence.

1. Form-words in English utterances are usually stressed.

2. In an unstressed position functional words are always reduced.

3. Auxiliary and modal verbs and prepositions are reduces when unstressed at the beginning or in the middle of an utterance, but retain their strong form at the end of an utterance.

4. In an unstressed position articles, the majority of conjunctions and pronouns are always reduced.

5. In the majority of cases form-words retain the full quality of their vowels.

6. There are some functional words which always retain their strong form in an unstressed position.

7. In an unstressed position the auxiliary verbs “have, has, had, do, does, is, are” are pronounced in the same way as the notional verbs “have, has, had, do, does, is, are”.

8. The demonstrative pronoun “that” and the conjunction “that” are never reduced.

9. The adverb of time “then” and the adverb of place “there” are notional words, that’s why they are never reduced in an unstressed position.

10. You know everything about pronunciation of functional words in English speech. Now you are ready to check your knowledge in practice, aren’t you?

TEST II /Practice/

Task I. Choose the right variant of pronunciation of the underlined words.

1. There are many books on the table.

a) [ðərə]

b) [ðɜər]

c) [ðər ɑ:]

2. Let’s go to Dr. Walls.

1. [tu:]

2. [tə]

3. [tʊ]

3. Let’s go to Helen today.

a) [tu:]

b) [tə]

1. c) [tʊ]

4. I have said it to you already.

a) [tu:]

2. [tə]

3. [tʊ]

5. I’m waiting for you two.

a) [tu:]

2. [tə]

c) [tʊ]

6. I’m waiting for you too.

a) [tu:]

2. [tə]

c) [tʊ]

7. Whom should I send it to?

a) [tu:]

2. [tə]

c) [tʊ]

8. I can help you.

a) [kæn]

2. [kən]

c) [kn]

9. I’m sure I can.

a) [kæn]

2. [kən]

c) [kn]

10. Honey, you must go to the dean.

a) [mʌst]

2. [məst]

c) [mst]

11. I don’t think I must.

a) [mʌst]

2. [məst]

c) [mst]

12. How far is it from here?

a) [frɒm]

2. [frəm]

c) [frʌm]

13. Where did he come from?

a) [frɒm]

2. [frəm]

c) [frʌm]

14. Go there as soon as possible.

a) [ðɜə] b) [ðıə] c) [ðər]

15. We need more than that.

a) [ðæn]

2. [ðən]

c) [ðen]

16. That girl is very lazy.

a) [ðet]

2. [ðət]

c) [ðæt]

17. Are you sure that she is lazy?

a) [ðet]

2. [ðət]

c) [ðæt]

18. Where do houses stand?

a) [dʊ]

2. [də]

c) [du:]

19. Does any of you speak English?

a) [dʌs]

2. [dʌz]

c) [dəz]

20. Lend me some money.

a) [sʌm]

2. [səm]

c) [səʊm]

21. Ok, I’ll lend you some.

a) [sʌm]

2. [səm]

c) [səʊm]

22. Remember, I have seen all your sins.

a) [hæv] b) [həv] c) [hʌv]

23. I have to ask you some questions.

a) [həv tʊ]

b) [hæv tu:]

c) [həv tə]

24. Ask, if you have to.

a) [həv tʊ] b) [hæv tu:] c) [həv tə]

TEST II /Practice/

Task II. Find out if the transcription of the underlined words correct or wrong.

1. ˈWell [ðen], ˈlet’s do it ‵now.

2. [ðen] ˈring me ‵up.

3. He [məst] ˈdo it to‵morrow.

4. He ˈknows himself that ‵he [məst].

5. ˈGive me [sʌm] ‵apples.

6. I can ‵give you [sʌm].

7. There’s [sʌm] ‵boy ˌwaiting for you.

8. We [hæv] a ˈlot of ‵time.

9. They [hæv] ˈseen ‵everything.

10. I’m ‵sure you [hæv].

11. I’m ‵sure you [həv tə].

12. I’m ‵sure you [hæv tu:].

13. He ˈwent [ɒf] in a _ˋminute.

14. ˈWho [ɒf] you ^•knows the ‵answer?

15. ˈHow [du:] you ^•like the ‵book?

16. We [kəd] ‵come then.

17. He ‵certainly [kəd].

18. [ðæt] ˈboy is ‵mine.

19. I ˈknow [ðæt] the ˈboy is ‵yours.

20. We ˈneed ‵more [ðən] ˌthat.

21. I ˈsent [ðəm] a ‵note.̇

22. They [ɑ^•] ˈcoming in ‵time.

23. ‵They [ɑ^•].

24. ‵Do it [fɔ^•] me.

25. ‵Who is it [fɔ^•]?

26. ˈShall I give it [tə] ´you?

27. [də] you ˈknow [ðæt] ^•love is ´cruel?

28. [hə] ˈlips [ɑ^•] ˈˈso ‵sweet!

29. [bʌt] ˈ[hi:] wants to ˈenter [ðə] ^•river ‵twice.

30. [ði^•] ^•wind ˈtalks [tə] itself on [ði^•] ˈtop of [ði^•] ‵hills.

31. It is the ˈduty [əv] the ^•student without exˈception [tu: bi:] ‵prudent.

32. [kæn] ˈyou keep your ‚heard [wen] ˈall about you [ɑ^•] ˈloosing ´their’s?