Владимир Аракин - Практический курс английского языка 1 курс

read: "Wet Paint".

Section Nine

Intonation of Parentheses

Model:Well, 1don't know.What do you think of Nick?> Wel ,| I -> don't know./Wel , |I -*

x

x

don't know. Well, |I don't know.He is a nice chap, I .think.

x

x

x

v

Parentheses express the speaker's attitude towards the utterance.

Parentheses at the Beginning of the Sentence

When the speaker doesn't attach any importance to the parenthetical words at

all they do not form a sepaiate intonation-group and are often unstressed and are

pronounced very quickly.

e. g. -» Well,I xdo. Well,I xdo.

If the speaker attaches more importance to parentheses, they form an

intonation-group. In this case they are stressed and are pronounced with any

nuclear tone: Low Fall, Low Rise, Mid-Level or Fall-Rise.

e. g. xWell, | I vdo.

To -* tellyou the, truth, | I Vdon't 'want to go there.

v

> Well,I I vdo.

For my xown ,part, | I should xlove it.

1. a) Listen carefully to the following conversational situations. Concentrate your

EXERCISES

M o d e l 1 : Well yes.'Well yes.

x

x

attention on the intonation of the replies:

By the way, do you play billiards?

I say, what are you and your

sister going to do for your

holiday this year? Oh, Peter's not old enough to

make up his mind about such

things.

I can see the English coast already, can you?

I wish I had your gift for

languages. Yesr what is it now, Harry? The Rovers won, Mum!

And how is your nephew Richard getting on?

And what do you think of London, Mrs. Thompson?

It's my book.

Well, I do, but of course, I'm not a professional or a champion.

Well, I don't know.

Well, you haven't answered my question yet Robert.

Yes, just. Well, I suppose

we'd better get ready for

landing. Well, I don't think I should

call it a gift. Oh, there you are. The Rovers, Robert? Why,

where have you been? Oh, he's getting on quite

well, thank you. Oh, I think it's a wonderful

place. Well take it, then.

b) Listen carefully to the replies and repeat them in the intervals. Have no pause after the

parentheses. Make them stressed or unstressed but pronounce them a bit faster than the main

utterance, c) Listen to the verbal context and reply in the interval, d) In order to fix intonation

in your mind, ear and speech habits repeat the responses yourself until they sound perfectly

natural to you. e) Listen to your fellow-student reading the replies. Tell him what his errors in

intonation are.

M o d e l 2 : Well, | I do.As a matter of /fact,| I'mnearly fortyOf > course, | I

x

x

x

do Persona l y | I'm Vnot'fondof hiking

x

x

/

x

2. a ) Listen carefully to the fol owing conversational situations. Concentrate your

attention on the intonation of the replies:

Verbal Context (Starting conversation)

I hope you'll have a comfortable journey.

What about indoor games?

There are plenty of good hotels in London.

Where do you go?

Where do you go as a rule? And how are things with you?

What day was before yesterday?

And how do you like our weather?

What sort of gloves do you require? Kid, suede, chamois?

Drill

Well, what's the news. Mr. White?

Well, what did you think of the play?

Well, what's the matter with you, Mr. Walker? Now, let's see what else did I

want.

Well, I've still got a few minutes to spare, so I'll go and get myself a novel...

Well, there's chess, billiards, cards.

Still, if you don't want to be disappointed, especially during the holiday

season, it's better to engage a room beforehand.

I think we prefer the south. However, it really doesn't seem to matter very

much, as long as the youngsters get a good sandy beach. We've tried many

seaside places on the east and south coasts; on the whole, I think we prefer the

south. Well, not too good, I ' m afraid, and going from bad to worse. In fact, it's

the worst year we've had for a long time.

Monday. As it happens last Monday was my birthday. Well, it's rather

changeable, isn't it?

Well, let me see some of each.

I should think it's dry enough after yesterday's sunshine. And how are things

with you?

How long have you been in London?

Can you tell me the right time, please?

There's a nasty-looking cloud just coming up behind you. You know, Nora, I

do feel a bit ill; perhaps I had better get back to bed.

We can't really tell until he takes his scholarship examination.

What about that pub we came past?

I've noticed quite a lot of interferences on my set. I suppose it's the weather.

I'm sorry to hear that.

I can see the English coast already, can you?

I don't think I'm quite as foolish as that.

What kind of shoe did you want, Madam?

What about indoor games?

Is it possible to see anything of London in one or two days? What kind of

biscuits would you like?

Well, is it warm enough for

you?

Well, not too good, I'm afraid,

Oh, only a few days.

Well, my watch says five past two.

Oh, that cloud isn't big enough to do any harm. Oh, what a pity!

Oh, but I'm sure he'll win a scholarship.

It's much too far away. Look, there is a barn over there. Of course yours is

rather an old-fashioned model.

Anyhow, I hope things aren't as bad as you imagine. Yes, just. Well, I suppose

we'd better get ready for landing.

As a matter of fact, I don't think I have anything to declare.

I want a strong walking shoe with a low heel... As you see, I have rather

small feet. Well, there's chess, billiards, cards, table tennis. By the way, do you

play billiards? Well, yes, but, of course, not half enough.

Well, I think I should like to try some of each.

What would you say are the most popular games in England today? What can

I do for you ?

Will he go to the University?

I bought myself a lovely pair of shoes.

Well, I suppose football.

Well, I have a proposition to

put before you.

Well, he may, or he may

not.

Did you? Well, that was exciting.

b) Listen carefully to the replies and repeat them in the intervals. Have a short pause

after each parentheses. Observe the slight difference in : tempo, pronounce the parenthetical

words or phrases a bit quicker. Make ' them sound more weighty and important than in

Model 1. c) Listen to the ■ verbal context and reply in the interval, d) In order to fix

intonation in your mind, ear and speech habits repeat the responses yourself until they sound

perfectly natural to you. e) Listen to your fellow-student reading the responses. Tell him what

his errors in intonation are.

3. Listen to the verbal context suggested by your teacher. Respond by using the replies.

Say what attitude you express:

Verbal Context

Where's Mum? I want to ask her something.

How do you make a cake, Mum?

There's a cold wind out there this morning.

She'll catch up with us in no time. I was left to keep house.

But I thought you mended it last year.

How far did you get?

Is there anything to your taste on the menu?

Now it's your turn to go to the greengrocer's and to the baker's.

Drill

Well, you'll have to wait till she comes in.

Fancy you being interested! Well, listen, and I'll tell you. Well, come inside

now and get warm.

Well, let's hope for the best. Well, I should think you had a hard time.

Well, yes, I've mended it several times.

Well, I went along the main road first.

Oh, yes, all kinds of things. Oh, bother!

Let Nelly do it today as well.

It's the first night.

I hope the seats are not in the balcony or in the gallery? How could I possibly

recognize her?

You were badly ill then. I've never spent a holiday in the country, so I don't

know what it's like.

Who were they all? They had no news of him. And was that the only place

you had been to?

I can buy another pair for you.

Oh, you've been a lazy-bones ever since you were born! Oh, it's at the Maly

Theatre, isn't it? Oh, dear, no.

Oh, it's quite easy.

Oh, that was ages ago. Haven't you really? Oh, you ought to.

Oh, nobody special. Oh, he'll be all right. Oh, no, it wasn't.

Oh, but it's all right, Harry, I've got them.

4. Read the following sentences according to Models1, 2. Use them in conversational

situations:

1. So, if you come with me, Til show you. 2. Yet, if you talk to her, you'll see

that she is right. 3. Then, don't trouble to answer it. 4. Then, I don't know how to

help her. 5. So, he is very lucky then, I think. 6. Now, why are there so many

people here? 7. Still, there are five more days. 8. Of course, their furniture is