1 He doesn’t really,meant that. 2 What are you going to do about it? 3 Need we tell her anything? 4 You mustn’t take it to,heart. 5 I’d rather you,didn’t. 6 As you wish. 7 I don’t,know. 8 What’s her real name? 9 Much better than,yesterday. 10 He wasn’t paid when he was on work ex perience.
Ex. 2 Compare the tunes with the Low Head and the Ascending Head. Remember that the latter is lively and expressive.
1 I am just as sur‘prised as ` you are! 2 It seems absolutely ri ` diculous. 3 Come a’long with ` us then. 4 It’s made of some sort of plastic. 5. He must have gone to the ‘theatre a ` lone! 6 But you’ve always wanted to buy it. 7 Nothing to write home about. 8 I’ll come as soon as I can. 9 What are you up to? 10 I She didn’t know a’bout it her ` self. 11 Could he have ‘thought of a ` better one? 12 Why couldn’t you come much earlier then? 13 Don’t you know Mike’s gone a way? 14 Jack was against it. 15 Let’s do it ` my way for a change.
Ex. 3 Act out the following mini-dialogues conveying the suggested attitudes in B’s part.
1 A: She’s likely to quit. – B: What makes you say that? (surprise, feeling of protest)
2 A: What excuse can I give? – B: Well, say you’ve got a previous engagement. (cool, disinterested)
3 A: Can we talk about it later? – B: Do you think I can wait till Monday? (impatience, protest)
4 A: It was Ann’s birthday yesterday, but you didn’t show up. – B: I was sure her birthday is in June. (surprise)
5 A: Look what a lovely bag I’ve bought! – B: Why, you’ve got a collection of them! (disapproval)
6 A: What time shall I join you? – B: Come as soon as you’re ready. (detached, reserved attitude)
7 A: Shall we go out today? – B: At last you’re saying something that I like. (surprise, impatience)
8 A: That was very stupid of him. – B: Could you’ve expected anything else? (disapproval),
9 A: What do you think of his confession? – B: I could hardly believe my ears! (protest, surprise).
10 A: I don’t give a lot of credit to his experience. – B: Neither do I. (cool)
11 A: I’ve mailed my resume without any cover letter. – B: But why haven’t you listened to me, George? (emotional, protesting)
Unit 8 Basic Nuclear Patterns of English
Basic intonation patterns of English
Tones are used in particular sequences (patterns) to express a wide range of meanings. There are several clearly discernable intonation patterns that are used on a regular basis in English. They are called basic because
1 they can be contrasted to one another both in form and meaning, i.e. the replacement of one pattern by another causes a change in the meaning of an utterance;
2 they are typical, i.e. they are pronounced and used in much the same way by all the educated English-speaking people;
3 they refer to an independent utterance, i.e. correspond to one intonation group.
Basic intonation patterns (BIP) of English are traditionally presented as pitch patterns, pitch being regarded as a decisive component in the description of intonation. According to the directional type of nuclear pitch change BIPs are divided into 4 main groups, the Falling tone pattern, the Rising tone pattern, the Falling-Rising tone pattern, and the Rising-Falling tone pattern. Each patterns in its turn includes several contours. For example, the Falling pattern is further subdivided into 1 the High (Stepping) head + Mid Wide Fall contour; 2 the High (Stepping) head + High Wide Fall contour; 3 the Low Head + Low Narrow Fall; 4 the Sliding head + Mid Wide Fall contour, etc.
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The Rising Tone Pattern
1 High (Stepping) Head + High Narrow Rise Contour
This contour has a strong interrogative force transforming any sentence-type into a question.
The meaning of the contour:
In statements: (they are actually Yes/No questions with direct word-order) – mild query or puzzlement, disbelief and disappointment. Often used in echoing what has just being said,
e.g.: A: Sit down there. – B: Down ΄here? // “Four thousand”, said Bob sadly. “Four thousand? But it’s just a shock!”
In questions: asking for repetition, echoing the listener’s question before answering it.
E.g.: A: What would you recommend? – B: What would ΄I recommend?
2 High (Stepping) Head + Mid Wide Rise Contour
This contour is typically heard in Yes/No questions, alternative questions and tags conveying neutral attitude.
E.g.: Did ‘everything go well? Was it black or ‵brown? You came a‵lone, didn’t you?
3 High (Stepping) Head + Low Wide Rise Contour
The meaning of the contour:
In statements: non-categoric, encouraging further conversation, sympathetic and friendly,
e.g.: We’re so ‘pleased to.meet you.
In Yes/No questions: genuinely interested, warm and friendly.
E.g.: Are you tired?
In Wh-questions: interested, warm and friendly, showing as much interest in the other person as in the subject.
E.g.: ‘When are you ‘coming,back?
In imperatives (requests, reassurances ): friendly, encouraging, soothing, reassuring,
e.g.: ‘Take it,easy. ‘Don’t be,long. ‘Have another,helping. Shall I call the doctor? Could you ‘get me some aspirin?
4 Low Head + Low Narrow Rise Contour
In all sentence-types: calm, reserved, casual, disapproving,
e.g.: No I,haven’t. He can’t make up his,mind.
Speech Exercises