The high rise

The high rise is used in special questions echoing, calling for repetition or additional information, sometimes shading into disapproval or puzzlement.

E.g. Nora: Oh, what a pity. I thought perhaps you might stay up to see her.

Harry: That’s the very reason I’m getting back into bed.

Nora: ˊWhat did you say? (“Meet the Parkers”12)

What’s that bowl for? – ˊWhat’s it for?

Exercise 1.

Read the following conversational situations, use the high rise. By echoing special questions you call for repetition.

1. I think this is Joan’s umbrella. – ˊWhose?

2. That big one’s mine. – ˊWhich one?

3. I shall need a dozen, at least. – ˈHow ˊmany?

4. These flowers are for you. – ˊWho are they for?

5. He must be made to obey. – He must be ˈmade ˊwhat?

6. He’ll meet us at three fifteen. – At ˊwhat time?

7. What is it? – ˊWhat is it?

8. What reason did he give for his behaviour? – ˊWhat reason?

9. Where are you going? – ˊWhere?

10. Why couldn’t you warn me? – ˊWhy couldn’t I?

11. How do you like his new essay? – His ˈnew ˊwhat?

12. I’m exhausted. – You’re ˊwhat?

13. What did he promise that day? – ˊWhat did he promise?

14. This sad story made the listeners cry. – ˈMade the ˈlisteners ˈdo ˊwhat?

15. I want you to ring me up again. – You ˈwant me to ˈdo ˊwhat?

Exercise 2.

Respond to the following sentences. Call for a repetition of the information already given.

Model: I want you to ring me up again. – Youˈ want me toˈ do ˊwhat?

1. The boy’s behaviour made me think he was ill.

2. The rain made us return home.

3. The cold made us put on our coats.

4. The play made us laugh a lot.

5. The foreigner wants me to tell him something about my country.

6. She wants her son to enter the University.

Exercise 3.

Respond to the following sentences. Call for a repetition of the information already given and add some shade of puzzlement in your response.

1. She wants you to leave her alone.

2. He wants you to start immediately.

3. His stare made me feel ill at ease.

4. His message made me change my plans.

5. He wants us to go there at once.

6. He wants me to translate this article.

VI

The fall-rise

Special questions with the fall-rise sound plaintive, pleading, weary, despairing.

E.g. Sorry, I’m late. – Oh, `why ˌcan’t you ˌcome on ˏtime for once?

Sometimes special questions with the fall-rise sound warm, sympathetic.

E.g. I feel so miserable, mother. – ˈWhat’s the `matter, ˏdearest?

The falling part marks the idea which the speaker wants to emphasize.

Exercise 1.

Read the following conversational situations. Use the fall-rise, sound weary, pleading.

1. How big did you say it was? – Oh, `why ˌdon’t you ˏlisten?

2. Three thousand he paid for it. – ˈWhen will the ˈpoor ˈfool `learn ˏwit?

3. I tell you, I won’t do it. – ˈWhy are you `always so ˏobstinate?

4. Mummy, I’m bored, come and play with me. – ˈWhen are you ˈgoing to `stop ˏbothering me?

Exercise 2.

Read the following conversational situations. Use the fall-rise, sound warm and sympathetic.

1. It was my treat. – ˈHow `much ˏwas it?

2. I have to go out now. – `When will you be ˏback, d’you think?

3. Did you call, Frank? – ˎYes,│ˈwhat’s the `time, ˏplease?

4. I feel so miserable, mother. – ˈWhat’s the `matter, ˏdearest?

VII