Becoming familiar with rhythm and intonation in English
1
PRACTICING LISTENING Becoming familiar with rhythm and intonation in English There is no such thing as a fixed rhythm and intonation pattern, meaning that it is very difficult to perfectly predict how somebody will speak something. Rhythm and intonation systems depend on region, age, nationality, social class, etc. However, it is possible to find things in common. Content Words They are the most relevant words in a sentence, and are generally the clearest and strongest words – the ones you can easily understand. Even though content words traditionally comprise nouns, adjectives, adverbs and verbs, other parts of speech (classes de palavras) may ocasionally be stressed as a result of context imposition. Function Words In general, these have reduced sounds and weak stress. They are important for meaning but they are still less relevant to the uttering (enunciação) of the sentence than the content words. Auxiliary verbs, prepositions, pronouns and determiners (especially the/a, an) are part of this group. IMPORTANT: The speaker is free to change the traditional intonation if they consider that this difference is beneficial to the expression of their ideas, so you are not supposed to expect that it is always going to have the same kind of intonation – it can, and will, vary. Use the RIGHT BUTTON of the mouse to delete the big audio window. 1. Listen to this extract of an audio taken from The White House website What sentence best describes the intonation you hear? a ) " DOCtor RUth ROgan beneRIto was a pioNEER in what, toDAY, we’d CALL bioPROducts. " b ) " DocTOR Ruth roGAN beniriTO was A pioNEER in what, TOday, WE’d call BIOproDUCTS. " NOTE that only the stressed syllables are intonated in English. 2. Write the transcription below on a piece of paper and circle the strong syllables you hear in the audio on the right. Use the text highlighter (realçar texto) to see the answer, compare and listen to the audio again. " Doctor Benerito, in essence, saved the cotton industry by developing a process of producing wrinkle and stain and flame-resistant fabric. " " DOCtor BeneRItO, in ESsence, SAved the COTton INdusTRY by deVElopING *A* PROcess of proDUcing WRINkle and STAIN and FLAME-reSIStant FAbric. " /// *A* - Special stress: moment to think, normal in every conversation. 3. The alternation between stressed and unstressed syllables dictate the rhythm in English. Listen to the whole podcast and: a) Close your eyes and pay attention to the strong syllables. Try tapping your fingers to follow the rhythm. b) Now pay attention only to the very weak sounds. 4. Listen again. Pay attention to what you know, disconsider what you don't know, and answer these questions: a) What is Ruth Benerito’s profession? b) Where did she work? c) What were her contributions? SOURCE: https://www.whitehouse.gov/women-in-stem Teacher Bryan P. Antunes, CELIN - UFPR.
Becoming familiar with rhythm and intonation in English
Becoming familiar with rhythm and intonation in English
There is no such thing as a fixed rhythm and intonation pattern,
meaning that it is very difficult to perfectly predict how somebody
will speak something. Rhythm and intonation systems depend on
region, age, nationality, social class, etc. However, it is
possible to find things in common.
Content Words
They are the most relevant words in a sentence, and are generally
the clearest and strongest words – the ones you can easily
understand. Even though content words traditionally comprise nouns,
adjectives, adverbs and verbs, other parts of speech (classes de
palavras) may ocasionally be stressed as a result of context
imposition.
Function Words
In general, these have reduced sounds and weak stress. They are
important for meaning but they are still less relevant to the
uttering (enunciação) of the sentence than the content words.
Auxiliary verbs, prepositions, pronouns and determiners (especially
the/a, an) are part of this group.
IMPORTANT: The speaker is free to change the traditional intonation
if they consider that this difference is beneficial to the
expression of their ideas, so you are not supposed to expect that
it is always going to have the same kind of intonation – it can,
and will, vary.
Use the RIGHT BUTTON of the mouse to delete the big audio
window.
1. Listen to this extract of an audio taken from The White House
website
What sentence best describes the intonation you hear?
a) " DOCtor RUth ROgan beneRIto was a pioNEER in what, toDAY, we’d
CALL bioPROducts. " b) " DocTOR Ruth roGAN beniriTO was A pioNEER
in what, TOday, WE’d call BIOproDUCTS. "
NOTE that only the stressed syllables are intonated in
English.
2. Write the transcription below on a piece of paper and circle the
strong syllables you hear in the audio on
the right. Use the text highlighter (realçar texto) to see the
answer, compare and listen to the audio again.
" Doctor Benerito, in essence, saved the cotton industry by
developing a process of producing wrinkle and stain and
flame-resistant fabric. "
" DOCtor BeneRItO, in ESsence, SAved the COTton INdusTRY by
deVElopING *A* PROcess of proDUcing WRINkle and STAIN and
FLAME-reSIStant FAbric. " /// *A* - Special stress: moment to
think, normal in every conversation.
3. The alternation between stressed and unstressed syllables
dictate the rhythm in English. Listen to the whole podcast
and:
a) Close your eyes and pay attention to the strong syllables. Try
tapping your fingers to follow the rhythm. b) Now pay attention
only to the very weak sounds.
4. Listen again. Pay attention to what you know, disconsider what
you don't know, and answer these questions:
a) What is Ruth Benerito’s profession? b) Where did she work? c)
What were her contributions?
SOURCE: https://www.whitehouse.gov/women-in-stem Teacher Bryan P.
Antunes, CELIN - UFPR.
bryan
Nota
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6.1910367
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