Ex. 1 Read out the phrases reproducing the indicated variants of the Fall-Rise.

Mind. Look out. Right. Practically. It’s hot. It’s bitterly ˇcold. I think so. I don’t think so. Tuesday. He’s coming home soon. I’d rather not. They hope it  will. Hardly. We may. She won’t like it. I can’t a fford it. It’s ‘quite a distance from here. They aren’t in the ‘least a like. He llo. Bye. Here’s the doctor, Harry. We ` need some cream. As she likes ˇreading, we could give her a ` book.

 

Ex. 2 Read out the mini-dialogues. Compare the speaker’s attitude and state which of the phrases sound a) implicatory; b) straightforward; c) interrogative.

1 A: Where’s your sister now? B: At the uni`versity.

A: Let’s meet again and talk it over. – At the uni΄versity?

A: She studies at the university. – b: At the ˇcollege.

2 A: He’s coming back on Thursday. – B: On ˇFriday.

A: He’s coming back next week. – B: On ΄Monday?

A: When is he going back? – B: On ` Friday.

 

Ex. 3 Practise reading the Fall-Rise in the mini-dialogues. Guess what ideas are implied there.

1 A: He’s from Brazil. – B: Boˇ livia. 2 A: Was the grammar test difficult? – B: ˇRather.  3 A: Will the weather keep fine this week? – I ˇthink so.  4 A: Can you finish it tomorrow? – B: ˇHardly.  5 A: Don’t you think she’s lucky? – B: `I,don’t. 6 A: It didn’t take you long. – B: It ˇ did. 7 A: I rang you twice last night. – B: You ˇdidn’t. 8 A: Nobody can speak Italian here. – B: `I,can. 9 A; Are they Polish tourists? – B: Not neceˇssarily. 10 A: I always leave my umbrella behind, - B: You mustn’t ˇ lose it!

 

Ex. 4 Choose the appropriate reply for the given context:

1 Where’s the British Museum? (In London. In `London)

He lives in Manchester. (In `London. In London)

2 Which of the two shall I give you? (The `first one. The first one)

So you like the second one better. (The `first one. The first one)

3 How do you find the text? (It’s `easy. It’s easy)

I wonder how you are going to do it. (It’s `easy. It’s easy)

4 When is he leaving? (To`day. To day)

He is leaving tomorrow. (To`day. To day)

5 I think she’s quite plain. (She’s `pretty. She’s pretty)

What does Joe’s sister look like? (She’s `pretty. She’s pretty)

 

The Rising-Falling Tone

 

The Rising-Falling tone is a bi-directional complex tone. It comprises two elements – a rise and a fall, which can be realized within one syllable: the voice rises form a mid to a high pitch and then immediately falls to the bottom of the voice range,

 

e.g.:  Nice.                         

                __________                                       

 

                __________

 

The fall and the rise may also be distributed between two syllables. According to the number of the syllables involved in the pitch change two structural variants of the nuclear Rise-Fall (RF) are distinguished: one-syllable type is realized on monosyllabic words,

e.g.: Fine.

                __________                                       

 

                 __________

Two-syllabletype is spread over two syllables. The first one, which is stressed, carries a sharp and short rise from the mid to the top of the normal voice range, from where the second syllable falls without stress to the bottom,

e.g.: Never! 

          ___________

                                     

               ___________

 

Three-syllable type involves three syllables. The first one also takes a greater importance and it is pronounced on a steady pitch level. The other two are not so prominent and while the second is pronounced on the top, the third syllables goes to the bottom. All the other unstressed syllables that follow (if any) are said on a low steady pitch. They form a tail.

 

e.g.: Perfectly!

                ___________                                       

 

                ___________

 

It is necessary to determine the beginning of the tail in sentences with the nuclear rising-falling tone which is marked by a low pitch sign (_) or, if the syllable happens to be partially stressed, by a low stress. Compare:

 

e.g.: How should ^I _know it?           How should  ^I know it? 

___________________            _________________

 

___________________            _________________

 

The difference between the three structural variants is not confined to the form of the rising-falling tone. There is a certain functional difference as well: the more syllables are involved, the greater prominence they get.

 

The RF is used in a lively, emotional conversation. It shows that the speaker is impressed, either favourably or unfavourably, or expresses his quizzical attitude to the situation. For example: I am  ^ sure he knew that.

 

Speech Exercises