The low rise

With the descending scale statements with the low rise sound soothing and reassuring.

E.g. Nora: Yes, of course, Mrs. Howard, I mustn’t boast, but it ˈreally is a ˏcomfort │to ˈhave ˈsuch a ↑hard-working ˈboy as ˏRobert.

Exercise 1.

Read the following conversational situations, use the low rise. The statements reserve judgments and encourage further conversation.

1. Have you heard about Max? – ˏNo.

2. Whose book is this? – ˏMine.

3. How many blouses have you got? – ˏSix.

4. Aren’t they expensive? – ˈSome of them ˏare.

5. Can he come to tea tomorrow? – ˈMaybe he ˏcan.

6. I’m sorry, I’m late again. – That ˈdoesn’t ˏmatter.

7. How about asking Max to join us? – He ˈought to be ˈable to ˈget aˏway.

8. Do you think the proposal is reasonable? – On the ˈwhole it’s ˈquite ˏfair.

9. Can you turn up at nine on Tuesday? – As a ˈrule I ˏcan.

Exercise 2.

Read the statements with the descending scale in the conversational situations. They sound soothing, reassuring, sometimes surprised.

1. Alice is leaving. – ˎYes, │ she ˈwants to ˈgo to the ˏPark.

2. Shall I buy the TV set? – If you ˈdon’t ˈfind it ↑too exˏpensive.

3. The furniture is new but not quite modern. – It ˈdoesn’t ˈmatter ˈall ˏthat much.

4. I’d like to have a bite. – Perˈhaps we’ll ˈgo to a ˈcafé for a ˈcup of ˏcoffee.

5. Tell me, doctor. Is he badly hurt? – ˈNothing at ˈall ˏserious. ˈJust a ˈfew ˏbruises.

6. I don’t think I’ll ever do it. – You ˏwill. It’s ˈjust a ˈmatter of ˏpractice.

7. Shall we write a dictation tomorrow? – I beˏlieve so.

8. I’ll give a talk on Cronin. – ˈSince you are ˏfond of him.

9. When shall we start? – ˈAny ˈtime that ˏsuits you.

Exercise 3.

Read the following conversational situations. Use either the low fall or the low rise

In accordance with the speaker’s attitude given in brackets.

1. – Mum, Alice is leaving.

• Yes, she wants to go to the Park. (soothing)

• Yes, she wants to go to the Park (weighty)

2. – I thought I was to be given some fish for supper.

• Perhaps we’ll go to a restaurant for supper. (reassuring)

• Perhaps we’ll go to a restaurant for supper. (calm and weighty)

3. – Shall I buy this TV set?

• If you don’t find it too expensive. (calm)

• If you don’t find it too expensive. (soothing)

4. – I don’t think I’ll ever master the language.

• You will. It’s just a matter of practice. (soothing)

• You will. It’s just a matter of practice. (calm and weighty)

5. – How about asking him to come a bit later?

• All right. I’ll have a talk with him. (soothing)

• All right. I’ll have a talk with him. (calm and weighty)

IV

The high rise

Statements with the high rise have in most cases the effect of questions expressing wonder.

E.g. You ˊlike him? (is equivalent to ˈDo you ˏlike him?)

ˊSugar? (is equivalent to ˈDo you ˈtake ˏsugar?)

Exercise 1.

Read the following conversational situations, use the high rise expressing wonder.

1. We shall have to return. – Imˊmediately?

2. Careful. – ˊCareful?

3. Pity! – ˊPity?

4. I should phone him about it. – ˊNow?

5. What do you think of my dress? – ˊNew?

6. Could I have another cup of tea? – ˊSugar?

7. I’ve just read that new travel book. – ˊInteresting?

8. I listened to every word he said. – ˊEvery word?

9. Everybody thinks it’s magnificent. – ˊEverybody?

10. He’s going on holiday. – Aˊlone?

11. I’ve given up missing classes. – For ˊgood?

12. What do you think of the car? – Your ˊown?

13. I’ve just met her husband. – You ˊlike him?

14. Have you seen my bag anywhere? – You’ve ˊlost it?

15. Alan’s not here, I’m afraid. – He’s gone ˊhome?

16. We are going shopping. – ˊRight away?

17. Let’s go to the restaurant. – You’ve got eˊnough money?

18. I believe he is in Syktyvkar now. – In ˊSyktyvkar?

19. We spent the whole day on the beach. – The ˊwhole day?

20. It’s getting warmer. – You ˊthink so?

V