3. Read the text and speak about the intonation of statements in English.

Intonation of Statements

Statements are most frequently used with the Low (Medium) Fall preceded by the Falling Head or the High (Medium) Level Head. Such sentences sound final , complete and definite, e.g:

It’s difficult. (No Head)

I  wanted to go there immediately. (F.H. + L.F.)

It was not so easy. (H.L.)

Statements with the Falling or the High (Medium) Level Heads followed by the Low Rise or the Mid-Level Nuclear tones sound soothing and encouraging. Statements are also used with the Low Rising tone when they are intended as questions, e.g.: You like it?

The speaker sounds grumbling if the statement is pronounced with the Low Head followed by the Low Fall, e.g:

I didn’t expect to see you here.

If the statement is a correction of someone else’s words or a contradiction to something or a warning it is usually pronounced with the Falling Head or the High(Medium) Level Head followed by the Fall-Rise, e.g:

Verbal Context Response

He is forty. He is forty-  five.

3.3. Practise the following statements and imitate their intonation Patterns.

1. Andrew could not see clearly.

2. His heart was thudding with excitement.

3. It’s not so far as you i magine.

4. I don’t know, I suppose it’s about twelve.

5. It was wonderful, I was a mazed how good it was.

6. We didn’t know what train they’d be on.

7. It’s not so bad (encouragingly).

8. You won’t fall (soothingly).

9. His name is John. – Harry (correction).

11. You are not trying. – I most certainly am (contradiction).

12. Any news of Tim? – He’s coming home soon.

Pronunciation Practice.

4.1. Listen to the dialogue “Big Shots in Sport”, mark stresses and tunes according to the model. Practice its reading after the speakers. Big Shots in Sport

Mick: D’you see all those medals? You know he’s “Sir” now?

Jes: Sorry, …who’s a what?

Mick: Y’know Steve Redgrave … Sir Steve Redgrave the Olympic rower. There’s an article here on him. He’s the only guy to have won five consecutive gold medals at the Olympic games.

Jes: Yeah, ‘course I know him, he’s one of my sporting heroes, isn’t he? Ever since I tried rowing in my first term at university and…

Mick: I didn’t know that you er…rowing I mean.

Jes: Yeah, yeah, gave it up, totally, absolutely, completely knackering – too whacked to make it down the pub afterwards … (laughter). So, how does Steve Redgrave manage it?

Mick: He sayes here it’s all in the training – he’s been training eight hours a day, seven days a week for 25 years – er started when h was 16, he says he pushes his body to the absolute limit, beyond the pain limit, beyond the pain barrier – just like he does in every race. His body goes numb and his mind goes blank – he doesn’t even hear the crowds cheering him on.

Jes: Oh, boy, do I remember the pain barrier?! – Jeez, I was stiff the next day …had joints like and old man.

Mick: Yeah – day in, day out Steve’s down at the gym working out – working on leg, arm, back, shoulder muscles. Is that man focused?! Doesn’t sound like the kind of lifestyle you’d go for! (laughs)

Jes: Hey, hang on … he doesn’t have my health problems…

Mick: Oh yeah?! And what may those be?

Jes: Well, there’s by bad back…

Mick: Oh yeah…only if you’re asked to get off it to do something like…-er

Jes: Like what?!

Mick: Do the washing up! Tidy the flat! Well, actu…in fact Steve Redgrave does have health problems – real ones – not imaginary ones…

Jes: No?

Mick: He’s diabetic…says here he was diagnosed with diabetes at 35. has to use insulin every time he eats – er that six jabs a day.

Jes: You’re kidding. I had no idea.

Mick: Yeah, he drinks gallons of blackcurrant juice to quench his thirst when he’s training. Doesn’t sound much like, your kind of drink. Hey, take a look at Steve’s diet, he’s the carbohydrate kid – porridge, pasta and potatoes, loadsa red meat and eggs…oh, and he loves chocolate.

Jes: Obviously, doesn’t have to watch his weight then…

Mick: No, lucky so-and-so, and he has to keep up his strength, has to consume over 6000 calories a day, all seventeen stone of him.

Jes: Well, he’s a helluva big guy, so dedicated to his sport he has to keep eating!

Mick: Hey, …but it says here all that dedication –er nearly cost him his marriage – too much time rowing, no time for his family – er and he’s got three kids. His wife’d enough of it all – do you know, she’s an osteopath! How handy is that? Anyway, she felt that he was sacrificing his family to his obsession – so that’s why…

Jes: …he’s not going for a sixth …no, no…I knew he was giving it all up.

Mick: He sounds a really decent guy, actually – modest – he says being knighted was the ultimate accolade, he never expected it – and it was his greatest moment, after winning the fifth medal of course – and now he plans to make use of his fame by raising money for children’s charities. He’s running the London Marathon this year, he wants to raise £5 million eventually.

Jes: …Hey, I was thinking of doing that!

Mick: What?! Raising 5 million?

Jes: Idiot…no, I thought I might try the Marathon.

Mick: With your bad back!

Jes: OK maybe next year.

(Adapted from: HWadv_Unit10.6)