Components of english intonation

I. Form words

Form words (conjunctions, prepositions, articles, auxiliary verbs) and pronouns (personal, possessive, relative, indefinite) have two forms of pronunciation: strong and weak. In connected speech these words are unstressed as a rule and used in a weak form.

# has [ hæz 􀀀- həz - z ]

1. Study the table of strong and weak forms of form words and transcribe the sentences below:

1. The boy spent much time near the sea.

2. He looked at the old ships and listened to the talks of the sailors.

3. He can speak about his horses for hours.

4. They are white and black, but about all of them are rather old.

5. Yes, you may drink milk, but you mustn’t take alcohol and do not watch TV too much.

6. I shall give him another piece of advice, as he follows only mine ones.

7. She wants to go to the village.

8. You could finish this before.

9. From time to time, they had a look through the window.

10. Take an apple and a piece of bread for your sister.

II. Direct address

Direct address in the middle or at the end of the sentence is usually

unstressed and continues the melody of the preceding intonation group.

1. Intone and read the following sentences with direct address. Transcribe them and indicate the intonation on the staves:

1. What are you reading, Peter?

2. Come to the blackboard, Angela, could you?

3. Leave me in peace, John.

4. Do you like apricots, Gina?

5. Will you help me, Jack? We should finish the work today.

6. Not so many questions, Mary, stop now.

7. Can’t you ask father and aunt, Barbara?

8. You like English, Steve, don’t you?

9. You don’t find it difficult, do you, Andy?

10. Do you know this or that rule better, Mel?

At the beginning of the sentence direct address is always stressed and usually forms a separate intonation group, which, as a rule, is pronounced with the fallingrising tone.

N.B. In official speech it is pronounced with the falling tone:

1. Intone and read the following sentences with direct address. Transcribe them and show the intonation on the staves:

1. Mary, sit down, dear!

2. John, listen to your teacher!

3. Peter, may I use your pencil?

4. Edward, something has gone wrong with my lamp!

5. Pete, fetch some chalk!

6. Children, stop making noise!

7. Eddy, why didn’t you phone me?

8. Madam, which is the biggest store in Moscow?

9. Nora, come along, my dearest!

10. Mom, I should like another apple.

2. Read the following conversations choosing the appropriate intonation patterns for direct address:

1) M: Is anything the matter, Jenny?

J: Not really, Mike. I just feel nervous about my exams tomorrow.

M: But surely, Jenny, you’ve done a lot for it.

J: Mike, you’re a real friend.

M: Jenny, you just take it easy.

2) A: Mr. Woods, I’m still waiting for your report.

B: I’m sorry, Mr. White, but I haven’t finished it yet.

A: You‘re going to have a lot of problems, Mr. Woods.

B: Mr. White, I will have finished by four p.m. tomorrow.

A: Four o’clock is a dead line, Mr. Woods.