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Timestamp: 2019-04-20 17:23:36+00:00

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Unit 22 Stress and Rhythm (重读和节奏) § When English speakers are speaking, they usually: –make some parts of words stronger and clearer than other parts (word stress) –join parts of the words together (sound linking) –arrange words into groups and join them together (pauses and word groups) –make some words stronger and clearer than other words (sentence stress). Ø Every language in the world has its own rhythmic patterns. Ø There are two types of rhythm in the world’s languages: Stress- timing （重音定时节奏） and syllable-timing （音节定时节奏） ØStress-timing： Equal intervals between stressed syllables (重读音 节之间使用一样的时间间隔) Ø Prototypical languages: English, Dutch, German ØSyllable-timing： Equal syllable durations （每个音节使用一样的 时间长度） Ø Prototypical languages: French, Spanish Ø All languages of the world are said to fall into one group or the other Two Types of Rhythm Rhythm in English speech is based on stress (英语的节奏基于重读，或者节奏以重读音节为节奏单位) § The English speech is Stress-timing, that is, the stressed syllables follow each other at roughly equal intervals of time. § In English, variation of syllables or words that have strong stress with those that have weaker or reduced stress is typical and contributes to the rhythm of English. § Therefore, rhythm in English speech is based on stress. A rhythm unit is formed by a stressed syllable, together with unstressed syllables which may come before that stress and/or after it. § Example One: clap you hands in time to the stress as you read the sentences。读以下句子的时 候，请随着重读音节拍手. § Note: the stressed syllables follow each other at roughly equal intervals of time Rhythm in English speech is based on stress ( 英语的节奏基于重读，或者节奏以重读音节为节奏单位) §/Tom /John /Steve /Sam §/Thomson /Johnson /Steven /Samson §/Thomson and /Johnson and /Steven and /Samson §/Thomson and then /Johnson and then /Steven and then /Samson Rhythm in English speech is based on stress (英语的节奏基于重读，或者节奏以重读音节为节奏单位) §Example Two: read the following pairs of phrases and sentences. §Black or white? It was black and it was white. §soft and lightIt s soft and it s light. §Dan and SueIt was Danny and it was Susie. §bread and milk Some bread and some milk. §Get a purse.Get us her purse. §a dark roomIt was dark in the room. §cold winter It was cold in the winter. §Note: it takes about the same length of time to say each pair of these phrases and sentences because the number of syllables may vary but the number of stressed syllables are the same. Fig. 1: Chinese Putonghua on the rhythmic scale in relation to French, Spanish and English Syllable-timed Stress-timed French Putonghua Spanish English The rhythmic patterns of Chinese and English § Please read the sentence aloud: § Who’s coming to the birthday party? The rhythmic patterns of Chinese and English Who’s coming to the birthday par- ty? By a non-native speaker of English. Who’s coming to the birthday par- ty? By a native speaker of English. Syllablesdinnerparty Non-native speakers 0.1230.1430.1990.168 Native speakers 0.1250.0750.1030.052 Table 2: Syllable length for “dinner party” in “Who’s coming to the dinner party?” (Time unit : sec) Rhythm Unit § A rhythm unit = one [and only one] stressed syllable [+ unstressed syllable(s)] § E.g.: “Who’s/ “coming to the/ “birthday/ “party? (4 rhythm units) § It was a “cold/ De“cember/ “morning. (3 rhythm units) Four chief features of a rhythm unit: § 1. it contains one (and only one) stressed syllable and it may also contain unstressed syllables. § 2. no matter how many syllables a rhythm unit may contain, it is spoken in almost the same length of time as the other rhythm units. § 3. no pause or break between the words in one rhythm unit. § 4. In a rhythm unit, unstressed syllables are quite short before the stressed syllable, and relatively long after the stress. § E.g.: It was a “cold/ De“cember/ “morning. § “It was a” and “De” are quite short. § But “-ber” and “-ning” are fairly long. § 英语话语的重读规律是: 重读与非重读音节相间 出现。重读音节与紧跟其后的非重读音节一起 组成重音组。在不受迟疑（可使人说话速度放 慢）或激动（可使人说话速度加快）等因素影 响的情况下, 话语中重音之间的间隔时间大致相 等。也就是说，根据英语的节奏规律，话语说 起来所需的时间不决定于它有多少个词，多少 个音节，而决定于它有多少个句子重音。假如 句子重音之间的非重读音节数多，结果必然是 说起来要快一些，含糊一些。 Requirements for a good English rhythm: § 1. (emphasize the stressed syllables): giving proper emphasis to stressed syllables; § 2. (weakening the unstressed syllables): weakening (弱化) unstressed words and syllables and obscuring (使模糊) the vowels in most of them. § 3. (pauses): organizing words properly into word groups by means of pauses. § 4. (sound linking): blending (连起) the final sound of each word and syllable with the initial sound of the following one within the same word group. § 一句话说起来所需时间长短不取决于句中 的单词数或音节数, 而取决于句中有多少 个重读音节。 § 句中重读音节相继出现的地方，通常语速 会慢一些, 音节听起来自然也清楚一些。 § 重读音节之间拥挤着出现的非重读音节听 起来轻快而且含糊。 § 练习英语话语节奏的重点是：学会顺利地 、匀称地从一个重读音节移动到下一个重 读音节，特别要学会把重读音节中间夹带 的非重读音节读好。 总之： § Now some practices: Rhythm patterns of the words and sentences. § 1.economicI ve a pocket. § 2.scientificI m terrific. § 3.absoluteAsk for it. § 4.cinemaSing for me. § 5.disagreeI ve a tree. § 6.souvenirShe s sincere. § 7.newspaperTalk to her. § 8.determinationWe ll end pollution. § 9.photographyIt s hard for me. § 10.electrificationHe needs a vacation. (Note: it takes about the same length of time to (Note: it takes about the same length of time to read the word and the sentence in pairs.)read the word and the sentence in pairs.) Sentences with two stressed syllables. §Please eat. §What is that? §Write it down. §Take it back. §Do it now. §Give him some more. §Turn on the light. §Leave it alone. §Finish it if you can. §They did it well. §He told us a lie. §They walked in the dark. §Hang it on the wall. §Clean it with a brush. §They waited for an hour. §He ll finish it today. §They heard of it before. §I think he ought to §They went on a Saturday. §I took it to a watch repairer. (Note: it takes about the (Note: it takes about the same length of time to same length of time to read each of the read each of the sentences.)sentences.) Sentences with three stressed syllables. §Don t go now. §Sam works hard. §I can t believe it s true. §It s all the same to me. §I d like a piece of bread. §I m sorry I m late again. §I d like to take a new one. §She wants a pound of sugar. §It s only for girls and boys. §He studies every evening. §I think that he wants us to go. §The office is open at eight. §She s gone for a walk in the park. §I wonder if he ll tell them in advance. §There isn t really quite enough for two. §The others must have been waiting for a while. §There was snow and ice in the open. §We ve been waiting for an hour and a half. §We ll go into the neighbouring building. §It s time we were having our lunch. (Note: it takes about (Note: it takes about the same length of the same length of time to read each of time to read each of the sentences.)the sentences.) Sentences with four stressed syllables. §He used to play it every day. §He left his work without a word. §I ve told him not to come again. §She ought to know the way by now. §I saw him standing all alone. §A glass of wine will do him good. §I d like to enjoy a glass of wine. §Would you like to come with us tonight. §They wanted to watch it again and again. §Perhaps you can call her at eight tonight. §I shouldn t be surprised if they forgot to come. §The others must wait in the classroom for a while. §I thought it was wonderful to be able to come. §The office is open every other day. §You said that he would like us to come for the party. §You said that you wanted us to take it away. §But turn to the right at the end of the street. §It s not what I was thinking of you about. §I should have thought that he could get here in time. §You know that they ought to discuss it today. (Note: it takes (Note: it takes about the same about the same length of time to length of time to read each of the read each of the sentences.)sentences.) § Practice materials: § P.121-4.

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