Rhythmic shift in stress

Look at the following sentences. Underline the syllable that takes the main stress in the words or phrases printed in italic. Check with the recording.

Examples: The performance was really first- rate. She runs a first -rate business.

1. I always like working outdoors. I’m really lucky to have found an outdoor job.

2. Put the TV on. We’ll be just in time for the ten o’clock news.

3. As a novelist I’d say he is first-rate. But he’s really a second-rate poet.

4. My friend’s Chinese – she plays in the Chinese orchestra.

5. I live in Piccadilly Circus.

6. I really hate over-cooked vegetables.

7. They always wear really up-to-date clothes.

8. You can take a boat upstream from Greenwich to Westminster.

9. Your food will be stone-cold if you don’t eat it now.

10. – Haven’t you heard of her? She’s a really well-known writer.

- She can’t be that well-known if I haven’t heard of her.

11. He’s a good-looking guy, but not as good-looking as he thinks he is.

12. Really low-paid workers find it difficult to buy new clothes.

13. I’ll only ever eat farm-fresh eggs but I must admit that I often buy oven-ready chips.

Activity 2

Activity 2 Listen carefully to the song I believe I can fly. Read the lyrics of this song and try to sing along. I used to think that I could not go on And life was nothing but an awful song But now I know the meaning of true love I'm leaning on the everlasting arms If I can see it, then I can do it If I just believe it, there's nothing to it [1] - I believe I can fly I believe I can touch the sky I think about it every night and day Spread my wings and fly away I believe I can soar I see me running through that open door I believe I can fly I believe I can fly I believe I can fly See I was on the verge of breaking down Sometimes silence can seem so loud There are miracles in life I must achieve But first I know it starts inside of me, oh If I can see it, then I can be it If I just believe it, there's nothing to it [Repeat 1] Hey, cuz I believe in me, oh If I can see it, then I can do it If I just believe it, there's nothign to it [Repeat 1] Hey, if I just spread my wings I can fly I can fly I can fly, hey If I just spread my wings I can fly Fly-eye-eye Discussions How was the experience? Were you able to follow the track? Listen and Read it' carefully, at least thrice. Then try to sing along, you may invite your friend or siblings or somebody to jin you. Isn't the song beautiful? Success is all about overcoming all odds and realizing our dreams.

Practice Test

I Transcribe and mark the tunes. Divide the first three sentences into rhythmic units. Divide sentences 4 – 10 into thought groups.

1. Why do you want to learn Spoken English?

2. The linguists are bad people, always on a look out for making life of people a tormenting hell.

3. She’s an exceptional case.You should excuse her.

4. They can swim better in the competition.

5. Mrs Sonia Gandhi has a beautiful collection of cotton sarees.

6. I bought a jacket, a jumper and three pairs of socks in the past four days.

7. How often do you attend seminars?

8. They went to that exquisite place during summer.

Conclusion

So, students, now you know enough about the nature of English Rhythm and have developed skills how to sound natural in English. You have listened to the poetry to practice and tried your abilities in singing a famous song and proper reading an extract of an outstanding novel by Thomas Hardy.

Are you ready for Self -Assessment?

Fill in the table (tick “your” answer in a column and give yourself a mark:

Self – Assessment Table

NOW English rhythm is…	IS LUCID TO ME NOW	I FEEL SOME DIFFICULTIES IN OBSERVING PROPER RHYTHM	STILL HAVE NO IDEA HOW TO SOUND RHYTHMICALLY
I can divide the sentences into thought groups…	EASILY	HAVE SOME PROBLEMS..	NEED HELP
English rhythm is..	SYLLABLE-TIMED	STRESS-TIMED	SHIFT-TIMED
I assess my rhythmic skills as…	EXCELLENT	GOOD ENOUGH	POOR

References:

1. Антипова А. М. Ритмическая система английской речи: [Учебное пособие для пед. институтов ] / А. М. Антипова. – М.: Высшая школа, 1984. – 119 с.
2. Меркулова Е.М. Английский язык для студентов университетов. Введение в курс фонетики. Серия «изучаем иностранные языки» / Е. М. Меркулова. – СПб.: Издательство Союз, 2000. – 144 с.
3. Посібник з практичної фонетики англійської мови (для студентів 2-го курсу факультетів іноземних мов) Укл.: Л.Б. Карпусь – 2-е вид., випр., доп.- Ніжин: Видавництво НДУ ім. Гоголя, 2005. – 197 с.
4. Практическая фонетика английского с / М. А. Соколова, К. П. Гинтовт, Л. А. Кантер и др. – М.: Высш. школа, 1984. – 352 с.
5. Практическая фонетика английского языка: Учеб.пособие / Е.Б. Карневская, Л.Д. Раковская, Е.А. Мисуно и др.—Мн.: Выш.шк., 1990.-279с.

6. Beisbier, B. (1995). Sounds great: Intermediate pronunciation and speaking for learners of English. MA: Heinle & Heinle.

1. Elements of Pronunciation. – Colin Mortimer. Cambridge University Press 1985. – 96 p
2. Enjoy Practising Phonetics! Навчальний посібник з практичної фонетики для студентів факультету іноземних мов // Укладачі: Левицький А.Є., Паращук Л.А. – Вінниця: ПП Видавництво «Фоліант», 2004. – 256 с.
3. Kelly Jerald. How to Teach Pronunciation. – Series editor: Jeremy Harmer. –Longman, 2004. – 153 p.
4. Gilbert, J. B. (1984). Clear speech: Pronunciation and listening comprehension in American English. New York: Cambridge University Press
5. David Brazil.

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