This week, you'll learn about some things that give English its special rhythm and melody. You'll learn about syllables—the small chunks of sound that make up the "beats" in words—and word stress—the way some parts of words are emphasized more than others. You'll also see how some words become shorter and weaker when we talk. Since these words are used very often in ordinary speaking, we can't understand spoken English without them. Our goal this week is to help you use the music of English to communicate more effectively and to be understood more easily when you speak. Enjoy learning about the music of American English pronunciation.
Practice activity, The Intonation of American English.
The up-and-down melody of your voice as you speak.
The intonation at the end of the sentence is the most important part of the melody.
Does it go up or down?
Listen carefully to these sentences.
Do you hear the intonation go up or down at the end?
Are whales a kind of fish?
Did the intonation go up or down?
Yes, it went up, because it's a yes, no question.
Now say the sentence, are whales a kind of fish?
Yes, it went down, because it's a statement.
Now, let's try some other kinds of questions.
down at the end, or up on an earlier word and down at the end?
The first question is, how many brothers and sisters do you have?
What kind of intonation did you hear?
Yes, the intonation goes down at the end because it's a WH question.
How many brothers and sisters do you have?
The next question is, do you want to watch TV, or read a book?
Yes, the intonation goes up when we say, watch TV, and then down at the end.
Do you want to watch TV or read a book?
The next question is, you were at the meeting yesterday, weren't you?
What kind of intonation did you here?
Yes, the intonation went up at the end.
the listener was at the meeting yesterday.
You were at the meeting yesterday, weren't you?
Now, let's practice some more.
decide what kind of intonation you should use.
Read the first one and decide if it should go up, down, or up and the down.
Now, listen and see if your predictions was right.
Have you ever been to Yosemite National Park?
Yes, the intonation goes up because this is a yes, no question.
Now, listen and see if your prediction was right.
Did you go to Yosemite in summer or winter?
then down at the end because this is an, or, question.
Read the next one and decide what you think the intonation will be.
I'll bet it was really beautiful, wasn't it?
the speaker might be pretty sure that the listener will agree.
was beautiful, the intonation could also go up.
Read it and decide if it should go up, down, or up and then down.
What did you do in Yosemite?
Yes, the intonation goes down because this is a WH question.
a trip to Yosemite National Park.
Pay attention to intonation of questions and answers.
You'll also notice lots of connected speech in this conversation.
Now, listen and repeat each part.
Have you ever been to Yosemite, Ellie?
Yeah, I went there last year.
Did you go in summer or winter?
I didn't want to go in summer because it's always so crowded.
I'll bet it was cold, wasn't it?
Yes, and there was quite a bit of snow on the ground.
I went hiking a couple of times, but mostly I just admired the scenery.
I must have taken hundreds of pictures.
I want to go there someday.
I want to go again, too.
But maybe next time I'll go in summer.
It's an important part of the music of English pronunciation.