Unite 1. The Sound [k]

The sound [k] occurs in word initial, word medial and word final positions. [k] is spelt «k, c, cc + a, o, u; qu, ch» as in kite, card, accord, conquer, stomach. Definition. [k] is occlusive, plosive, backlingual, velar, strong, voiceless. Articulation. 1. The back of the tongue makes a firm contact with the soft palate. 2. The soft palate is raised. The air coming from the lungs is trapped for a short time and then breaks the obstruction with a slight explosion. 3. The vocal cords do not vibrate for [k]. 4. The breath effort for [k] is very strong.

◊¹ Exercise 1. Listen and repeat. Mind the phonetic phenomena of aspiration, loss of aspiration and loss of plosion:

car carpet cuckoo

cup of coffee American ticket

pocket school scarf

scooter sky of course

because

Exercise 2. Read the following words paying special attention to the allophones of the sound [k] (*see Part II. The Main Phonetic Phenomena, p. 117):

Word initial Word medial

position position

castle Newcastle

key account

cape drinking

kite liquor

cat recommend

kept America

Loss of Word final Loss of plosion

aspiration* position (before stops)*

scar dark doctor

school make thanked

sky lock book-case

ski oak sick baby

score strike black dog

this cat traffic take care

Nasal plosion* Lateral plosion*

bacon clear

picnic clean

rock’n roll climb

dark night cloud

thank Nick claw

Exercise 3. Read the following sentences containing the sound [k]:

1. Kate asked me not to come.

2. I think you’d better ask the cook.

3. Take care not to make many mistakes when you bake those cakes.

4. Cocks crow. Cats caterwaul. Crows caw. Ducks quack. Peacocks scream.

5. Keep quite quiet.

6. Come back and keep us company.

7. Kiki cannot take a joke.

8. School keeps on till six o’clock.

9. Come back as quick as you can.

Exercise 4. a) Read these idiomatic expressions. Learn their meanings:

1. Cry quits. – Пойти на мировую; расквитаться.

2. Cut and come again. – Гостеприимство, изобилие.

3. The coast is clear. – Опасности нет.

4. To kick against the pricks. – Лезть на рожон.

5. To be as cool as a cucumber. – Быть хладнокровным.

6. To be as weak (melancholy) as a cat. – Быть размазнёй.

7. To be like a walking dictionary. – Много знать.

8. To come like clock-work. – Приходить минута в минуту.

9. To keep smth quite dark. – Держать в секрете, скрывать.

2. Make up sentences of your own using these idiomatic expressions. Ask about Ken, Kate, Kirk, Kay, Kim, Kiki, Kit.

E. g. Kate is like a walking dictionary.

◊ Exercise 5. Listen and repeat:

Clark six cakes quiet

clock next forks thank you

clever exciting clocks

cream expensive like

coffee excuse me talks

cuckoo American take two

of course chocolate plastic

bookshelf electric

milk

◊Exercise 6. Read the dialogue. Learn it. Act out the dialogue:

The Cuckoo Clock

Mrs Cook: Would you like some cream in your coffee, Mrs Clark?

Mrs Clark: No thank you. But I’d like a little milk.

Mrs Cook: Would you like some chocolate cakes?

Mrs Clark: Thank you.

Mrs Cook: Take two. Here’s a cake fork, and here’s a …

Mrs Clark: Excuse me, Mrs Cook. But what’s that next to your bookshelf? Is it a clock?

Mrs Cook: Yes. It’s an American cuckoo clock.

Mrs Clark: Is it plastic?

Mrs Cook: Oh, no, Mrs Clark. It’s a very expensive clock. It’s an electric clock.

Mrs Clark: Well, it’s exactly six o’clock now, and it’s very quiet. Doesn’t it say «cuckoo»?

Mrs Cook: Of course, Mrs Clark. Look!

Clock: Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo! Cuckoo!

Mrs Clark: How exciting! What a clever clock!

Clock: Cuckoo!

Exercise 7. Pronounce these tongue-twisters in the shortest possible time:

Keenly cleaning copper kettles.

***

A curious cream-coloured cat crept into the crypt and crept again.

Exercise 8. Give the Russian equivalents for the following proverbs. Learn them. Think of situations to use these proverbs:

1. If you agree to carry the calf, they’ll make you carry the cow.

2. Cut your coat according to your cloth.

3. Catch as catch can.

Exercise 9. Read a special [k]-story:

Clifford quite likes Caroline. Caroline doesn’t care for Clifford. Clifford catches Caroline and kisses her quickly. Caroline cries, kicks and screams. Clifford cowers in the corner. Clifford cures Caroline with a quick cup of coffee and a cream cake.

Unite 2. The Sound [g]

The sound [g] occurs in word initial, word medial and word final positions. [g] is spelt «g, gg, gh, gu» as in garden, giggle, ghost, guard. Definition. [g] is occlusive, plosive, backlingual, velar, weak, voiced, in final position it is partly devoiced. Articulation. 1. The back of the tongue makes a firm contact with the soft palate. 2. The soft palate is raised. The air coming from the lungs is trapped for a short time and then breaks the obstruction with a slight explosion. 3. When [g] is produced the vocal cords are drawn together and vibrate. 4. The breath effort for [g] is weak. Allophones. The partially devoiced weak [g] occurs in word final positions, eg. dog, vague.

◊ Exercise 1. Listen and repeat:

Sound 1 Sound 2

cold gold

coat goat

curl girl

class glass

back bag

clock clog

Exercise 2. Read the following words paying special attention to the allophones of the sound [g]:

Word initial Word final

position position

go egg

give bag

get dog

garden jog

Word medial Loss of plosion

position (before stops)

begin begged

agree rugby

exam egg-cup

finger log-cabin

English dog-collar

Nasal plosion Lateral plosion

ignore glad

pug-nose glass

dogma glare

big man glow

Pygmalion glue

Exercise 3. Read the following sentences containing the sound [g]:

1. We agreed to go there together.

2. Got a cigarette, Gil?

3. If you go digging in the garden, don’t forget to get your old grey gloves.

4. I’ve broken a glass in the kitchen.

5. The girl found a big dog in her wagon. «Go away! Go away! » She said.

Exercise 4. a) Read these idiomatic expressions. Learn their meanings:

1. One gets gripped. – Это захватывает.

2. Get you gone! – Уходи!

3. Go while the goings go. – Убирайся подобру-поздорову.

4. To be a gay dog. – Быть весельчаком.

5. To be as gay as a grig. – Быть весёлым человеком.

6. To have got the gift of the gab. – Иметь «хорошо подвешенный язык», быть красноречивым.

7. To give as good as smb got. – Отплатить той же монетой той же монетой.

8. To have got to get going. – Нужно идти.

9. To have a grudge against smb. – Иметь «зуб на кого-либо», сердиться на кого-либо.

10. To have got good sea legs. – Хорошо переносить качку.

11. To be a go-getter. – Быть ловким.

12. Smb’s life is all game and glee. – Проводить время в развлечениях.

13. To get smb’s goat. – Сердить кого-либо.