The low fall

Statements with the low fall convey a calm, reserved, unsurprised, dull, possibly grim attitude on the part of the speaker.

When the law fall is preceded by the descending head the speaker may sound considered, responsible, intense, pressing, and rather emphatic.

E.g. Nora: I’m exˈpecting ˎMother│ – she is ˈcoming ˎover, │ for the ˎday. (Meet the Parkers 12)

Exercise 1.

Read the following conversational situations with statements. Remember that the low fall is used in final, calm, reserved, categoric statements.

1. Can you come tomorrow? – ˎYes.

2. Whose book is this? – ˎAnne’s.

3. Where do you come from? – ˎRussia.

4. How old are you? – ˎTwenty.

5. When is he coming? – Toˎmorrow.

6. Where is Ann? – She’s ˎout now.

Exercise 2.

Read the following conversational situations with statements. Remember, when the statements get longer they sound considered and weighty.

1. How much did you pay for it? – It ˈcosts ˈover ­two ˈhundred ˎpounds.

2. What is the weather like? – I ˈthink it is ˈgoing to ˎrain.

3. When can you come? – As ˈsoon as the ˈweather imˎproves.

4. Why didn’t the guard let you in? – He ˏsaid ∣he ˈcouldn’t ˈlet me ˈin without a ˎpass.

5. Have you any news of Malcolm? – We ˈhaven’t ˈheard from him for ˎages.

6. How did you spend the morning? – I ˈstayed in ˈbed until ˈnearly ˎlunch time.

7. David has grown a beard. – ˈSo he ˎhas.

8. What’s the time, please? – ˈTen ˈminutes to ˎnine.

9. I don’t like this film. – I enˈtirely aˎgree with you.

II

The high fall

Statements with the high fall sound insistent, lively and interested, sometimes surprised. They are very common in conversation.

E.g. Mrs. Howard: Oh, but I’m sure he’ll win a scholarship.

Nora: `Yes, we `hope he ˏwill. (lively) (Meet the Parkers 3)

Harry: ˈNo, ˎseriously, ˏNora, │I ˈcan’t `bear it. (insistent) (Meet the Parkers 12)

Exercise 1.

Read the following conversational situations with statements, use the high fall. Convey your personal concern, including irritation or interest.

1. – Now what have you done to Mary? – `Nothing.

2. – Who has been eating my grapes? – `No one.

`No one has.

`No one’s been ˌeating your ˌwretched ˌgrapes.

3. – Which will you take, Henry? – `This one.

4. – How many of his books have you read? – `All of them.

5. – When did you see him? – On `Thursday.

6. – Would you like to join us? – I’d `love to.

7. – Come on. Let’s get going. – We `can’t. It’s `raining.

8. – It was your entire fault. – But it `wasn’t. And I can `prove it.

9. – What was the show like? – `First rate. ˈSimply `splendid.

10. – It’s not very valuable, is it? – It ˈcosts `three ˌhundred ˌpounds.

11. – We’ll never get there. – It’s `not as ˌfar as you iˌmagine.

12. – Which would you like, tea or coffee? – I’d preˈfer `tea.

13. – I may be a bit late. – It ˈwouldn’t ˈmatter in the `least.

14. – Has he caught up with the group? – `Better than that. He is the `best in the ˌgroup.

15. – Why doesn’t she join our trips? – ˈSometimes she `does.

16. – I’m an amateur. – I’ll ˈnever beˎlieve it. You are ˈgood at ˈtennis in`deed.

17. – Where is my tie? It’s gone again. – You `never reˌmember where you ˌput your ˌthings.

18. – Let’s go to the pictures tonight. – I ˈreally ‵can’t. I’ve ˈgot a `lot of ˌwork to ˌdo.

19. – I’m going to consult a doctor. – It’s ˈhigh ˈtime you `thought about your ˌhealth.

20. – We are leaving tonight. – It’s a `pity. You ˈpromised to ˈstay with us a ˈbit `longer.

Exercise 2.

Read the following conversational situations. Use either the low fall or the high fall in accordance with the speaker’s attitude given in brackets.

1. – I’m going to consult a doctor.

• It’s high time you thought about your health. (weighty)

• It’s high time you thought about your health. (lively)

2. – We are leaving tonight.

• It’s a pity. You promised to stay with us a bit longer. (weighty)

• But you promised to stay with us a bit longer. (surprised)

3. – Why don’t you go to the doctor?

• Sometimes I do. (weighty)

• Sometimes I do. (surprised)

4. – How many students of your group were present?

• All of them. (calm)

• All of them. (lively)

5. – I’m an amateur.

• I’ll never believe it. You are very good at tennis indeed. (weighty)

• I’ll never believe it. (surprised) You are very good at tennis indeed. (lively)

6. – I may be a bit late.

• It wouldn’t matter in the least. (calm)

• It wouldn’t matter in the least. (lively)

7. – I don’t often have time these days.

• Yes, there are so many other things to do. (lively)

• Yes, there are so many other things to do. (weighty)

8. – I’ll ring you tomorrow to confirm if we are coming.

• Fine. (lively)

• Fine. (calm)

9. – All his friends are just the same.

• All of them are wild. (surprised)

• All of them are wild. (weighty)

10. – Do you like to play squash?

• Yes, and I enjoy myself in the process. (calm and weighty)

• Yes, and I enjoy myself in the process. (lively)

11. – You haven’t got to go yet, have you?

• There is no need to rush. (lively)

• There is no need to rush. (weighty)

12. – The exams were much too hard for me.

• Oh, come on. You’ve probably done better than you think. (lively)

• Oh, come on. You’ve probably done better than you think (weighty)

13. – I’m not much of a swimmer.

• Well, I’m hardly the world’s best swimmer myself. (lively)

• Well, I’m hardly the world’s best swimmer myself. (calm)

14. – I don’t think I’ll fly.

• Well, the air-fair is quite expensive, I admit. (surprised)

• Well, the air-fair is quite expensive, I admit. (calm and weighty)

III