An Introduction to English Prosody

Accentuation and Intonation

Word stress
Exercise 1 Stress marking
In words of two or more syllables, one syllable is always more prominent than the other(s). When you hear the word, repeat it, then place a stress mark / " / before the stressed syllable.

enImi k@lekt k&pItl kA;neISn

p&r@daIs s@btr&kt elIf@nt @bz3;v@

prQfIt ent@teIn

Exercise 2 Reading from transcription

The following are British place names. When you hear the number, pronounce them with the stress as marked. You will then hear the correct pronunciation, which you should repeat.

"Sr@Uzbri pQl"per@U &b@"di;n wUlv@"h&mpt@n

&b@"rIstw@T "b3;mIN@m nO;"T&mpt@n dVn"di;

"k&nt@bri "beIzINst@Uk

Stress placement in sentences

Exercise 1 Sentences for repetition
In sentences, it is usually content words (nouns, adjectives, verbs, and adverbs) that get stresses. Listen to these sentences and repeat: wi kn

"weIt f@ D@ "bVs "nju; "bUks aI m@s "ri;d

w@z

jU hi

"O;t t@ "h&v j@r "@Un "kA; "wQnts

t@

"haU d@ D@ "laIts "w3;k

D@r @ sm Si

"kVm

@n

"si;

@s @t

"h@Um "h&v jU "teIkn Dm fr@m "D&t "bQks

Its

"tUk @r "A;nt f@r @ "draIv "bA;skIt

S@d @

D@

"fUl

@v

"TINz

tU

"tru;

D@t i w@z

"leIt

/ b@t Iz

"kA;

"i;t "waI
@

k@d @v

"br@Ukn "daUn

"m&n "3;n "mO;

D@n

aI Sl

"teIk @z "mV @z aI "wQnt

"wUm@n

"waI @m aI "tu; "leIt t@ "si; Im t@"deI

Exercise 2 Placing stresses in sentences

Put a stress mark / " / before each syllable you would expect to be stressed in these sentences.

1. Leave the rest of the food for lunch. 2. Arent there some letters for her to open? 3. Where do the eggs come from? 4. Read this book and write some notes. 5. At least we can try and help. 6. James decided to type the letter himself. 7. The plane was approaching the runway at high speed. 8. Try to see the other persons point of view. 9. You put your breaks on / when the light turns to red. 10. In a short time / the house was full of children.

Intonation
Exercise 1 Pronouncing the tonic syllable
When you hear the number, say these tone groups making the underlined syllable more prominent. 1. Dont do that 2. Dont do that 3. Dont do that 4. Write your name 5. Write your name 6. Write your name 7. Heres my pen 8. Heres my pen 9. Heres my pen 10. Why dont you try 10. Why dont you try 10. Why dont you try 10. Why dont you try

Exercise 2 Identifying the tonic syllable

Listen and repeat. Mark all prominent syllables with / " /, then underline the tonic syllable. 1. We could go by bus 2. Of course its broken 3. The car was where Id left it 4. How much is the biggest one 5. I knew it would go wrong 6. It was too cold 7. Here it is 8. That was a loud noise 9. We could go from Manchester 10. Have you finished

Exercise 3 Repetition of tones

Listen and repeat. Fall: _yes _no _well _four `' yes Rise: `'no 7yes `'well 7no `'four 7well 7four

Fall-Rise:

Exercise 4 Production of tones

When you hear the number, say the syllable with the tone indicated. 1. 7Dem 2. _waI 3. `'wel 4. _Qn 5. 7wQt 6. _n@U 7. _hI@ 8. `'ju; 9. 7naU 10. _end

Exercise 5 Production in context

When you hear the number, say the syllable with the tone indicated. Hello / is that 661071? Do you know any scientists? Keep away from that road! How many dogs have you got? Have you ever heard such a terrible thing? What colour is your car? Do you want my plate? Dont you like it? You havent seen my watch / have you? What was the weather like? 7jes `'sVm _waI _tu; _n@U _red 7pli;z `'jes 7n@U _wet

Exercise 6 Transcription of tone units

Mark stresses and underline the tonic syllable in each of the following tone units. The, decide which tone mark each tonic syllable carries. 1. Now heres the weather forecast 2. You didnt say anything about rates 3. A few years ago they were top 4. No-one could say the cinema was dead 5. Is there anything you wouldnt eat 6. Have you ever considered writing 7. That was what he claimed to be 8. We try to do our shopping in the market 9. But I never go there now 10. It wouldnt be difficult to find out