Stylistic use of intonation
There are five verbal functional styles (also referred to as registers or discourses): 1. the belles-lettres style, 2. publicistic style, 3. newspaper style, 4. scientific prose style, 5. the style of official documents. In the case of oral representation of written texts we speak about into-national peculiarities of: descriptive and scientific prose, newspapers, drama, poetry, tales, public speeches, spontaneous speech and phatic communion. They are briefly the following:
Sense-groups. In reading descriptive and scientific prose, tales or newspaper material they depend on the syntax or the contents. They are shorter in drama than in descriptive and scientific prose, they are normally short in public speeches. In poetry the main unit is the line, which corresponds to a sense-group and consists of more than six syllables.
Tones. Mostly falling with a High Narrow Fall in non-final sense-groups of descriptive and scientific prose (High, Mid, Low Falls in final sense-groups, a Fall-Rise in non-final sense-group). Abrupt in reading newspaper. Simple and complex in final and non-final sense-groups in reading drama. Mostly slow falling, rising and level (the Level Tone is often combined with the High Level Scale). Compound tones: Fall + Fall, Fall + Level, Rise + Fall — in reading poetry. The Rising Tone is more frequent in reading non-final groups of tales than in the descriptive prose. Complex tones are often used in the dia-logical parts. The tonetic contour of tales is characterized by pitch fluctuations. In public speeches Falling Tones in non-final sense-groups are more abrupt than in final sense-groups. Compound tunes are frequent. They are mostly Fall-|-Fall. In solemn speeches Level Tones combined with the High Level Scale are often used to convey the attitude of the speaker.
Pitch. In reading descriptive and scientific prose and in newspaper material it is mid. It is rather wide in public speeches — narrow in reading poetry. It fluctuates in reading tales. It is wider in reading drama, than in reading the descriptive and scientific prose.
Stress. It is mostly decentralized in monologues and narrative parts, centralized in dialogues and emphatic parts.
Rhythmic organization. In reading tales it depends greatly on the syntactical and compositional structure. In public speeches it is based on the rhythmic organization of rhythmic groups and sense-groups.
Tempo. The tempo is moderate, mostly constant in reading descriptive and scientific prose and in newspapers, it is quicker in parenthetic and absolute constructions. It is changeable and moderate in drama. It is constant and slow in poetry. The tempo of public speeches depends on the size of the audience and the topic. The climax of a speech is characterized by a change in tempo, range and loudness.
Pauses. They are mostly logical, In poetry the line usually ends in a pause (if there is no enjambement). In reading drama pausation depends on the structure and rhythmic organization. In public speeches pauses not only divide the utterance into sense-groups, but make cer-
tain units prominent. There are hesitation pauses..Long pauses often anticipate the main information and isochronous units — lines. It is the main lexico-grammatical and intonational unit of poetry. Lines constitute a stanza. Poetry is characterized by the following intonational peculiarities: 1. A wide use of simple tones. The Level Tone is often combined with the High Level Scale. 2. The most typical tones are: Fall + Fall, Fall + Level, Rise + Fall.
Questions
1. How is intonation defined? 2. What are the main approaches to the study of intonation? 3. Speak on: a) the melody or the pitch component of intonation; b) sentence stress; c) rhythm and tempo; d) pausa-tion and tamber. 4. Speak on the stylistic use of intonation.
Exercises
1. Read these words with the six main tones: (1) low fall, (2) low rise, (3) high
fall, (4) high rise, (5) fall-rise, (6) rise-fall.
Model: vdeed, ,deed, 'deed, 'deed, vdeeds Adeed feed, cord, window, something, matter, quarter
2. Read these words and word combinations (a) with the undivided falling-
rising tone, (b) with the divided falling-rising tone.
(a) cousin, husband, country, London, midday, blackboard, quin
sy, bedroom, bathroom, modern, cottage;
(b) sit down, good morning, good day, go on, come up, what's up
3. Read these words and word combinations (a) with the undivided rising-
falling tone, (b) with the divided rising-falling tone.
(a) please, read, begin, listen, bad, thank, well, what, right, come,
foreign, wrong, dear;
(b) put down, write down, clean the board, not large, behind Tom,
long ago, poor thing
4. Read these sentences. Observe (a) the low falling tone and (b) the high fall
ing tone.
(a) She is ,cold. (b) She is 'cold.
She is at the .hospital. She is at the 'hospital.
'Father is at vhome. 'Father is at 'home.
'Don't go a^lone. 'Don't go a'lone.
'Don't I take the Jamp. 'Don't 'take the 'lamp.
He is inot 4well. He is 'not 'well.
'Why are you 4Iate? 'Why are you 'late?
'Betty is in vbed. 'Betty is in 'bed.
'Mother is vbusy. Mother is 'busy.
5. Read these sentences. Observe the tone marks.
1. I When are you .coming? 2. You can 'have it. to,morro\v. 3. I When did you 'last 'see your , parents? 4. She 'never 'really
Üooks very vwelL б, lMy books are jfairly ,new. 6, It's 'easier to ispeak than to (understand. 7. 'What did you -say? 8. You might have v warned me. 9. ,How long do you *want to 'keep it? 10. She 'won't Ido it any 'better than ,you. 11. Would you Hike a'nother I lump of 'sugar? 12. You ican't go to the Iparty idressed like vthat, 13. Will you Iwait till I've lhad itime to 'look for it. 14. It's 'always the ,same.
6. Read the following communicative types with the appropriate attitudes: (a) categoric statements (cool, reserved, indifferent, grim attitude)
low fall
1. I 'want to vtalk to you. 2. I What kcountry are you from? 3. I Ican't ispeak Spanish. 4, I was Jbusy that day. 5. You iknew he .was there.
(b) disjunctive questions (statement of a fact provoking the listener's reaction) They 4know about it, ,don't they?
1. He 'read this book, ,didn't he? 2. She (worked xhard at her English, ,didn't she? 3, They are in the Vater, ,aren't they? 4. iTom is already 4en, ,isn't he? 5. Your isister (wants to Istudy 'German, .doesn't she? 6. I can 'do something, ,can't I? 7. It's (five o'clock, .isn't it?
They Nknow about it, ^don't they?
(You are sure that the listener agrees with what you say.) Read the same questions with the above shown sequence, (c) commands (firm and serious attitude)
iShow me your xticket.
1. iTurn ion the flight, 2. 'Wash and 'iron your 4dress. 3, 'Leave the idoor .open. 4. iDon't (go to the .concert. 5. lHang up the ^time-table. 6. Reipair the .tape recorder. 7. 'Finish this 4worlc 8, 'Sew the ibutton on to your ^coat.
(d) exclamations (weighty and emphatic)
iHow ridiculous!
1. I'm fso ,happy! 2. The iweather is Jovelyi 3. It's tall .over now! 4. iStop iteasing your vsisterl 5. How Iquick the (young (people
»are! 6. 'What a itidy »room! 7. 'Lovely »weather! 8, I Wonderful 'language laboratory! 9. iSuch Iselfish lyoung »men!
(e) special questions (serious, intense, responsible)
What's the »time?
1. I When did you Icome vhome? 2. 'What do you ,do? 3. What did you Mo in the „evening? 4. iHow did you 'spend the 'time »yesterday? 5. Who is igoing to !do the »shopping?
Pronounce the saroe questions with the low rising tone to show interest.
What's all this ,fuss about?
Pronounce the same questions with the rising nuclear tone, following the interrogative word to show disapproval.
,When did you *come there?
Pronounce the same questions with the high falling nuclear tone to show business-like interest.
What's the 'time?
Pronounce the same questions with the high rising nuclear tone to ask for a repetition.
'What's the 'time?
Pronounce the same questions with the falling-rising nuclear tone to plead for sympathy. Make the questions warm, affectionate, weary.
What's the ,time? -v
Pronounce the same questions with the rising-falling tone to make it challenging, antagonistic.
"'What's the ,time?
(f) alternative questions (the final fall shows that the list is complete)
1. Would you like ,bread or vmeat? 2. Would you like ,fish or 4meai? 3. 'Would you like ,fish or 4eggs? 4. 'Would you like potatoes or to^matoes? 5. «Would you like carrots or 4cabbage? 6. (Would you like ,cucumbers or tbeets? 7. Would you like ,cof-fee or ^cocoa?
(g) statements containing an implication. What is implied is clear from the situation, it may be: suggestion, concern, polite correction, reluctance, careful dissent, grateful admittance.
am 'not ,late.
J
1. "I vhope I am 'not ,late.x 2. ~You are 'not .right. 3. "1 'work systematically. 4. ~ I have no 1time for ,lunch today. 5. "I 'should have ,done it. 6. "I Van't answer this question. 7. You 'can sing ,perfectly.
(n) requests (pleadingly, reproachfully, reassuringly)
\ J
1. 'Cheer ,up. 2. 'Do for,give me. 3. 'Don't ,do it. 4. 4Come in. 5. 'Don't |do it a,lonel 6. 'Will you in,vite me? 7. 'Go ,on.
7. Read these sentences. Make the auxiliary and modal verbs that begin sen
tences stressed to show greater interest.
1. iDoes it ,matter? Does it ,matter? 2. lls he going to ,come? Is he Igoing to ,come? 3. iDo you like ,oranges? Do you 'like , oranges? 4. I Can you have an [afternoon ,off? Can you have an lafterinoon ,off? 5. iCould they ,help it? Could they ,help it?
8. Read these sentences. Make the possessive pronouns that are used as predic
atives stressed.
1. IThis (thing was .mine. 2. IThis I thing was Jhis. 3. 'This ithing was vyours. 4. IThis 'thing was sours. 5. IThis 'thing was ^theirs.
9. Read these sentences. Make the final prepositions strong.
1. iNothing to be afraid of. 2. Whom are you t talking to? 3. iWhat do you 4want it for? 4. It was iMary he was ^looking for. 5. It was 'Bess he was vthere with. 6. iWhere did she tcome from? 7. What is she 4here for? 8. It's a ithing unheard of. 9. 'This Iboy should be vsent for. 10. IThis 'letter was «much talked about.
10. Read these sentences. Don't stress the correlative conjunction "as , . . as"-
1. I'll Icome as 'soon as he ^pleases. 2. I'll iread as Hong as the fchild Jikes. 3. It's tnot as 'simple as vthat. 4. (Jane was as
| 1 /- |
/-/ — the high prehead
(pale as ä vghost. 5. lUria was as 'slippery as an »eel.'6. iDid'you •say: "As I snug as a I bug in a jug?"
11. Read these sentences. Don't stress (or make weakly stressed) combinations: "or so", "or something", "each other", "one another". Don't stress the substitute word "one".
1. He will 'come in an vhour or so. 2. This ifruit will be Ired in a 4month or so. 3. We'll ibuy a ,coat or something to project you from the 4cold. 4. He 'said """Good xmorning" or something, and (Went |onwith his 4work. 5-. He' 'really 'wanted a 'couple of »books or so. 6. He was a ^bootmaker and a vgood one. 7. We have 'never ^quarrelled with each other. 8. The Ipassengers 'seemed to Jike one another.
Я2. Read these rhymes. Observe the regular alternation of stressed and unstressed syllables according to the given stress tone marks.
Uack and (Jillwent fup the ,hill. To I fetch a ipailof »water. •Jack fell ,down and I broke his ,crown, And 'Jill came 'tumbling vafter.
'Twinkle, itwinkle, 'little ,star, 'How I 'wonder iwhat you 4are. I Up albove the I world so ,high 'Like a'diamond Jin the vsky.
* * *
In 'winter 'I get lup at xnight And I dress by I yellow 'candle | light. In 'summer jquite the 'other vway I _^bave to Jgo to J>bed by %day.г
Control Tasks
1. Transcribe and intone the sentences below. Pay attention to the differen-tiatory function of stress in the italicized words.
1. a) He spoke with no trace of accent, b) The way you accent these words tells me you were not born in England. 2. a) That's very ab-
S
what I call a silver'tip? thVtax'i-dr'iver"said contentedly, b') This is obviously a silver tip; no other metal would have been strong enough for the job. 5. a) You will need a permit in order to visit that place, b) The job has to be done very quickly; it does not permit of any delay.
1 The mark Ijl indicates a stressed accented syllable In the scandent scale.
fi—182 209
6. a) We entered a very dark room, b) A darkroom is a room for photographic processing. 7. a) Who is going to refund our losses? b) The refund did not amount to too much but it was extremely welcome. 8.
a) This is all the spending money you'll get from me for this month.
b) Spending money is easy, making it may prove more of a problem.
2. Read this text äs a radio commentator: I).Add extra loudness to your voice.
2) Watch the tempo of speech. 3) Articulate clearly and distinctly.
A World Without Wars, Without Weapons is the Ideal of Socialism
The international policy of the CPSU proceeds from the humane nature of socialist society, which is free from exploitation and oppression and has no classes or social groups with an interest in unleashing war. It is inseparably linked with the basic, strategic tasks of the Party within -the country and expresses the common aspiration of the Soviet people to engage In constructive work and to live in peace with all the peoples.
The main goals and directions of the international policy of the CPSU:
— Provision of auspicious external conditions for refinement of
socialist society and for advance to communism in the USSR; removal
of the threat of world war and achievement of universal security and
disarmament;
— Constant development and expansion of cooperation between
the USSR and the fraternal socialist countries and all-round promotion
of consolidation and progress in the world socialist system;
— Development of relations of equality and friendship with
newly-free countries;
— Maintenance and development of relations between the USSR
and capitalist states on a basis of peaceful coexistence and business
like mutually beneficial cooperation;
— Internationalist solidarity with Communist and revolutiona
ry-democratic parties, with the international working class movement
and with the national liberation struggle of the peoples.
(From the draft new edition of the CPSU Programme)
3. Read this text as a dictation: observe correct rhythmic groups andsenten
stress.
Cutting off with a Shilling
| marry |
Sheridan, the famous English playwright, wanted his son Tom to rry a young woman of a large fortune. The youth was in love with
a penniless girl and refused pointblank to obey his father.
Out of patience with his son, Sheridan threatened him: "If you don't
immediately obey me, 1 shall cut you off with a shilling." "When you
really make up your mind' to cut me off with a shilling," said the youth, "you will have to borrow it first, sir,"
Sheridan burst out laughing and dropped the subject altogether.