Rhythm Chapter four

What is rhythm? • The rhythm of speech is based on the timing

of sound segments (syllables). • The uneven timing of stressed and unstressed

syllables gives English speech its rhythm.

• A person who speaks English with the rhythm of another language is said to speak with an accent.

Take more time out. The time is out. -Content words: (nouns-verbs, adjectives,

adverbs) These word forms contain the core of

information in a message and are spoken clearly and fully.

- Function words: (articles, helping verbs, pronouns) are simplified and spoken quickly.

Listen:

Call right back. I will call you right back. Will you call me right back? Page: 4.3

Reduced forms and rhythm:• Reduced forms are words or groups of words

that are spoken simply and quickly. • Vowels become unstressed and consonants

combine or become silent.

-who is he? -What do you mean?

Simplifying vowels: • Function words are spoken with reduced

vowels: -I can wait. Can anyone do that? /kәn/ In certain circumstances function words are

spoken clearly: 1- when the function word is stressed for

emphasis. 2- When the function word ends an utterance. Page: 4.4

Articles:

• The: say /ðә/ before a consonant: The past the time

• say/ði/ before a vowel: The idea the office

Page: 4.6

a/an• a before consonants /ә/A spy a border

• an before vowels /әn/ An eye an order

Page: 4.7

Other function words: are, or, for, your

/әr/ yes or no? / әr/ these are fine/fәr/ two for one. /jәr/ what’s your name?

Page 4.7/ 4.8

• Was = /wәz/ What was that? Was that interesting? Page: 4.8

• Will = /wәl/ It will rain. What will happen?

• Could, should, would It could rain. /kәd/We should ask. /∫әd/I would not ask.

Page: 4.9

• That: As an adverb: it is pronounced fully: That one. I doubt that.

As a function word: it is reduced: /ðәt/ I know that it’s right. I heard that you called. Tell me that it’s okay.

Page: 4.10

To, you: Easy to do. /tә/ you have to try it. /jә/ page: 4.10

• do, does, did - As main verbs: pronounced clearly:They do accounting. She does computer graphics. I did my paperwork. - as helping verbs: reduced: What do you need? /dә/What does it mean? /dәz/When did it start? /dΙd/ Page: 4.11

Thank you

Simplifying Consonants:

• Some consonants are omitted or not spoken clearly.

And: /әnd/ nice and easy you and I

/ әn/ before a consonant the d is not pronounced:

Rock’n roll now and then

Of = /әv/ the f is often not clearly pronounced when it is before a consonants.

Lots of luck /ә/ it’s kind of nice /ә/

Have, has, had: -as main verbs, they are pronounced clearly.- As helping verbs, h is omitted:

/әv/ what have you been up to? /әz/ what has happened? /әd/ Teresa had arrived.

He, him, his, her, hers:- These pronouns are often spoken with the h

silent: /әr/ Give her this copy. / ɪm/ tell him I’ll call him later.

Them: /ðәm/ Get th’m /әm/ Get ‘em

Reduced Word Groups: combining consonants- final t followed by y is often

pronounced/t∫/Won’t you? Why can’t you?-final d followed by y is often

pronounced /dʒ/ Did you? Would you go?

Linking with the tapped t Between vowels final t and d are usually tapped: Not at all what about it?

Common two-word reductions: (pages4.16-4.18)Ought to /ɑtə/ Got to /gɑtə/ What do /wʌtə/ Want to /wʌnə Going to /gʌnə/

• Omission of h and t: The h in he, his, her and hers is often omitted

when these pronouns connect with other words, particularly function words. (pages 4.19-4.20)

Is he your friend? /ɪzi/ Is her name Diana? /ɪzər/

• Contracted forms:I am= I’m You are= you’re We are= we’re They are = they’re

(pages 4.20-4.22)

Thank you