Задания для самостоятельной работы студентов

EAR-TRAINING TASKS

I. Note the greater degree of loudness and slower tempo of the public speech extract (a) in comparison with the extracts of formal (b) and informal ordinary speech (c). Compare also the distinctness of articulation and the degree of stresses in the given varieties of speech.

1. The “building of the ”factory is "coming to its “end. It’s ˈpractically “over. ¯One, of course, ˈunder‚stands that it ^↗all ^↗means a "great “change,│a ˈchange to be ˈfelt "not to“day,│ˈnot “now,│but ˈsome ˈtime ‘later. But we "must ^↗get ^↗ready ^↗for it to“day,│_\\now, I ˌmean ‚food, ‚housing, ‚transport and ‘other ˌthings.

2. The ˈbuilding of the ’factory is ˈcoming to an _\end. It’s ˈpractically ‘over. ˈOne, of ˈcourse, under’stands that it ‚all means a ˌgreat ‘change,│a ˈchange to be felt ˈnot to’day,│ˈnot ‚now, but ˈsome time _\later. But we must get ‘ready for it _\now, to_\\day, I mean “housing, “food, “transport and ‘other ˌthings. And it ^↘seems to ˇme ...

3. >Well, we’ve ˌpractically _\finished ˌbuilding the ˌfactory ‚now. It’s ^↘practically all _\over. Of ^↘course you can ˙understand it’s "all ˙going to ˙mean a ˈbig ‘change. And it’s a ˈchange that we are not, that we are going to feel ^↘not to‘day,│we are ˈnot ˙going to ˙feel it to‘day,│we are ˈnot ˙going to ˙feel it ˆnow,│but we are ˈgoing to ˙feel it ‘later ˌon. But we’ve ˈgot to ˙get ˈready for it _\\now. We’ve ˈgot to ˙get ˙ready for it to‘day. I ˈmean ˆmany ˙things like “housing and “food and “transport,║ ¯well, >things like ‘that│and it ^↘seems to ^↘me that ...

II. Note the difference in the placement and type of pauses, as well as the number and length of intonation-groups in reading an extract of fiction and spontaneous speech.

1. ¯With a ^↗nervous ‚sniff the ˈwhite ‚Rabbit ^↗clapped his ^↗watch ˙into his ‚pocket,│ˈscurried the ‚field and ˈdisapˌpeared down a ˈlarge ˈrabbit-˙hole under the _\hedge. ˆBurning with curi_\osity ˆAlice ˙raced ‘after him│and ^↘not ˙stopping to ^↘think for a ˇmoment she “dived into the ‘rabbit-hole. It ˈseemed ˆvery ˌdark in the ‘area in‚side after the ˈsunlit ˇfield and ˇAlice ˈin her ˙anˌxiety to ˈcatch ˙up with the ˈwhite _\Rabbit,│quite for‚got to ^↗look ^↗where she was ‘going,│ and ˈfound herself ‚falling ˙down a “very “deep _\well. ˈDown, >down, >down she _\went.

2. ‘Oh, it’s ^↘nice to ^↘see you a‚gain, ˇafter all these weeks. ‘Four ‚weeks ¦ do ‘seem a ˙long _\time. I "really en‘joyed myself. ¯Oh, _\yes. ˈYes, the "weather was fan“tastic,│and there was ˈlots of ˈthings to _\do. You "never got ˇbored there. We went ‚swimming and ‚riding and ‚sightseeing. ¯Oh, yes,│I’ve ˌbrought ˈlots of ˙souvenirs _\bасk. Must ˆshow you,│I’ve ˈnot been unˇpacked yet. _\Yes,│I spent ˈlots and ˈlots of ‚time ˈtalking to the ‘people. They are ˈvery ˆfriendly. I ˈdidn’t have much ‘trouble,│ ˈnot after the ‘first couple of _\weeks. I got to ˈknow all a“bout them,│their ‚customs and tra‚ditions. Oh, I’ll “always remember ˌthat. Yes, I’ll have to ˈshow you my ˆphotographs│as soon as I’ve un‚packed.

III. Compare the intonation of the identical sentences in the following pairs of formal and informal conversations. Note the tendency towards rising, falling-rising and rising-falling nuclear tones, high prehead, higher general pitch and faster tempo in informal conversations.

1. a) – It’s a ‘nice ‚cafe. But I’m a^↘fraid we shall ˙have to _\leave._(fast)

– ‘Oh, ‘Kate, ¯just a ‘few minutes ‚more ...

– ¯All ‚right. But ˈdon't be ˙late for the ˇtrain. It ‘leaves in ˌhalf an ˌhour, ‘you ‚know._(fast) ‘Try to be ˌready by ˌthat ‚time._(fast)

b) – ˈHere is a ‘ticket ˌfor you. And ^↘don’t be ^↘late for the ‘train.

– ˌWhen does it ‘leave?

– In ˈtwo ‘hours. ˈTry to be “ready by ˌthat ‚time.

2. a) – ˈDo you re˙member his ‘telephone ‚number? _(fast)

– ˌYes, I ‘do.

– ˈRing him ‘up. ˈAsk him to ˙come to ‘see me, ’would you?

– ˈTry to˙do it to‘day. _(fast) I ˈneed to ‘see him ˈstraight a‘way.

– ¯All ‚right.

b) – ˈDo you ˙know his ‘telephone ˌnumber?

– ‘Yes, I ‘do.

– ˈRing him ‘up then. ˈAsk him to ‘come and ‘see me, ˌwill you? ˈTry to ^↘do it to‘day. I ‘need to ‚see him aˌbout an ˙urgent ‘matter.

– _\Yes, sir.

3. a) – I’d ˈlike to ‘ask you, sir, ˈwhether you could ‘see me next ˌweek.

– ‘Certainly.

– ˈWhat ˙time’s con^↘venient for ‘you?

– ˈCome whenˈever you are >free.

– ˇThank you.

b) – ¯Hal‚lo, ˙Ann. I’d ^↘like you to ^↘help me with my ‘maths. I’m ^↘taking an e^↘xam ‘next week, you ‚know. _(fast)

– With ‘pleasure.

– ˈWhat ˙time’s con‘venient for ‘you?

– ˈCome whenever you are ˆfree.

– ‘Thank you.

4. a) – ˈWhat about that ˆpicture, Dave? Do you ˈthink it would ˙go ‘well on that ‘wall? _(fast)

– ‘No, I ˈthink it would be ˇbetter on the ˙wall ˙facing the ‘window. _(fast)

– I ^↘think so ‘too. ¯Help me to ‚move it ˙then. _(fast)

b) – ˈLook at this ‘map. ˈIsn’t it ˈtoo ˈhigh ˙up to ’see?

– ‘Yes, I ‘think so, ˌsir. ¯It would be ^↘better a ^↘few ˙inches ‘lower.

– ˈHelp me to ‘move it ˌthen.

5. a) – ‘Listen, ‚Joe, I ^↘can’t ˙find the ^↘register ˇanywhere. ˆSure I ˙put it in my ‘drawer ‚yesterday.

– Are you ’sure? _(fast)

– ˌAbso‘lutely.

b) – If you ˈwant to ˙get to the ‘post-‚office, ˈturn to the ‘right. Perˌhaps, it’s the ‘shortest ‚way. _(slow)

– ˈAre you ‚sure? ¯I am in a ˇhurry. _(fast)

– Of _\course, I’m ‚sure.

6. a) – It’s ˇlate and I am ˈfeeling ‘tired. And I’m a bit ‘chilly on such a ‚day. _(fast)

– ¯Have you ˈordered ‘tea?

– ‘Yes,│ I ¯here ˙comes the ‘waiter ˌnow._(fast)

– ‘Good.

b) – It’s ˈnearly ‘5, sir. ˈHave you ˙ordered ‚tea?

– ‘Yes,│ but I ˈdon’t ˙know ˙why it ˈhasn’t ˇcome yet.