Lecture 3Lecture 3

Weak forms and RhythmWeak forms and Rhythm

English Pronunciation English Pronunciation PracticePractice

英语语音技巧突破英语语音技巧突破

RevisionRevision

Tongue twisters

• A pleasant peasant keeps a pleasant pheasant and both the peasant and the pheasant are having a pleasant time together.

• Peter Piper picked a peck of pickled pepper prepared by his parents and put them in a big paper plate.

• Ripe white wheat reapers reap ripe white wheat right. • The great Greek grape growers grow great Greek grapes.

WordsStrong Vowels

Weak Vowels

at // //

has // //

she /:/ //

could // //

How are strong forms How are strong forms changed into weak forms?changed into weak forms?

• From strong vowels to weak ones //– Prepositions

at for from of to– Aux verbs

am are can do does had has have must shall should was were will would

– Adverbs conjunctions articlesa an and as but some than that the

– Pronounsher them us you your

• From strong vowels to weak ones //– be been he him his she we

• // dropping– Weak forms which drop their initial // except at

the beginning of utterances

– had has had have he her him his

Weak formsWeak forms

This unit deals with weak forms which are one of the most This unit deals with weak forms which are one of the most remarkable features of English. As a matter of fact, one remarkable features of English. As a matter of fact, one must learn to use the weak forms of English words if one must learn to use the weak forms of English words if one wants his English sounds to be English.wants his English sounds to be English.

As compared with the strong forms, the weak forms of these As compared with the strong forms, the weak forms of these words show the following features:words show the following features:

• reductions of the length of sounds;reductions of the length of sounds;• obscuration of vowels towards /obscuration of vowels towards //, //, // or // or / / / ，， /// or // or // ;/ ;• elision of vowels and consonants.elision of vowels and consonants.

The following list presents the most common of these The following list presents the most common of these function words.function words.

ConjunctionsConjunctions

and /and /nd/ nd/ ︳︳ nd \ and \ at. ‖t. ‖

//n/ ′n/ ′ ︳︳ blblk k n\ wait. ‖n\ wait. ‖

/nd/ hi /nd/ hi ︳︳ sst nd\ t nd\ it. ‖it. ‖

/// / ︳︳ bred n\ bbred n\ b ‖ ‖

as /as /z/ z/ z z ︳︳ ll ju\ ju\ ‖ ‖

but /bbut /bt/ bt/ bt ai kt ai k\ pr\ prs ju:. ‖s ju:. ‖

that /that // ai m / ai m ︳︳ frfrid id t at a ° °:nt \ :nt \ help ju. ‖help ju. ‖

than /than /n, n, n/ n/ ︳︳ mm: : n\ evn\ ev‖ ‖

PronounsPronouns

he /hi/ (in careful speech or hi 1he /hi/ (in careful speech or hi 1vz iz \ lvz iz \ lnd‖nd‖

in initial position)in initial position)

/// (in rapid speech, never at / (in rapid speech, never at ︳︳ hhz z / raivd? ‖ / raivd? ‖

the beginning of an utterance)the beginning of an utterance)

him /im/ wi: ik spektid im\ jesthim /im/ wi: ik spektid im\ jestdei. ‖dei. ‖

his /his // hi / hi ︳︳ ppt t t in iz \ pt in iz \ pkk‖‖

she /she // / ︳︳ wewe did did \ \ . ‖. ‖

her /her /:/ :/ ︳︳ li:v li:v :: \ l \ ln. ‖n. ‖

/ / / a/ av \ met v \ met . ‖. ‖

/h/h/ (when sentence-initial) h/ (when sentence-initial) h \ neim iz \ met ‖ \ neim iz \ met ‖

me /mi/ me /mi/ ︳︳ v mi v mi \ h \ hnd. ‖nd. ‖them /them /m/ m/ ︳︳ v v m m \ les\ lesn. ‖n. ‖we /wi/ we /wi/ ︳︳ hau khau kn wi\ n wi\ et et ? ‖? ‖ ww V V :t t:t t. ‖. ‖us /us /s/ s/ ︳︳ let let s \ du:s \ du:t. ‖t. ‖ /s/ /s/ ︳︳ let s \ let s \ . ‖. ‖you /ju/ ju you /ju/ ju \ r \ r ‖ ‖ ︳︳ jes, ju\ kjes, ju\ kn. ‖n. ‖that /that /t / hi t / hi ︳︳ sed sed hiz hiz \ best. ‖ \ best. ‖

VerbsVerbs

do (aux.) do (aux.) /du /+ (before vowels) /du /+ (before vowels) ︳︳ wai du °wai du °:l :l v ju \ kv ju \ km? ‖m? ‖ /d/d /+ (consonants) /+ (consonants) ︳︳ww ju \ n ju \ nu? ‖u? ‖ (vowel) +/d / (consonant) (vowel) +/d / (consonant) haha d ju / laik d ju / laik t? ‖t? ‖ does (aux. ) /ddoes (aux. ) /dz/ z/ ︳︳wen dwen d ° °rere \ ra \ rav. v. /z/ /z/ ︳︳ wenz i: wenz i: \ ra \ rav? ‖v? ‖ /s/ /s/ ︳︳ wwts i: \ laik? ‖ts i: \ laik? ‖

am am I +/m/ aim \ raI +/m/ aim \ rat. ‖t. ‖//m/ ( elsewhere) m/ ( elsewhere) ︳︳ wwt t a a t t \ d \ d? ‖? ‖are are ///+ consonant /+ consonant ︳︳ t t v v \ m\ m ‖ ‖//r/+ vowel r/+ vowel p pz z r \ r \ i. ‖i. ‖be /bi/ be /bi/ ︳︳ t t bi \ fa bi \ fa. ‖. ‖ t s tt s t bi bi m\ pm\ p:vd. ‖:vd. ‖been /bbeen /b/ hiz bin / hiz bin \ we \ we ‖ ‖

VerbsVerbs

is is

/s/ (after /p, t, k, f, /s/ (after /p, t, k, f, / ) / ) ts ts n\ n\ uld \ muld \ mp. ‖p. ‖

/z/ (after vowels and voiced/z/ (after vowels and voiced

consonants except stridents /z, consonants except stridents /z, , d, d/ )/ )

hi:z \ khi:z \ k. ‖. ‖

(after /s, z; (after /s, z; , , ; ; , d, d/, the strong form //, the strong form /z/ is always z/ is always used:used:

︳︳wwttz\ rz\ rt?)t?)

was /wwas /w/ a/ a \ \ ‖ ‖

has (aux. ) /has (aux. ) /z/ (after /s, z, z/ (after /s, z, , , , t, t, d, d/) /) z z ︳︳susu z / pz / pbl. ‖bl. ‖

/s/ (after /p, t, k, f, /s/ (after /p, t, k, f, / ) / ) dd ︳︳ ra:f s ra:f s °l °l \ nek. ‖ \ nek. ‖ /// (elsewhere) hiz / (elsewhere) hiz \ s \ sn. ‖n. ‖have (aux. ) /v/ (after I, we, you, they) wiv \ have (aux. ) /v/ (after I, we, you, they) wiv \

t. ‖t. ‖ //v/ v/ ︳︳ ww v ju \ v ju \

tt? ‖? ‖ /h/hv/ (at the beginning of hv/ (at the beginning of hv ju / v ju /

ttuld im? ‖uld im? ‖ a tone unit)a tone unit)

VerbsVerbshad (aux. ) /d/ (after I, he, she, we, you, they)had (aux. ) /d/ (after I, he, she, we, you, they) hi d hi d ︳︳ ud \ dud \ db. ‖b. ‖//d/ d/ ︳︳ rere d \ std \ st. ‖. ‖ /h/hd/ (at the beginning of a tone unit)d/ (at the beginning of a tone unit) hhd d ︳︳ ri: tri: t / k / km? ‖m? ‖ can /kcan /kn/ n/ k kn \ da:ns. ‖n \ da:ns. ‖ /k/k/ / ﬞ ﬞ nau. ‖nau. ‖could /kcould /kd/ kd/ kd ju / tel mi? ‖d ju / tel mi? ‖shall /shall /l/ l/ ︳︳ t°det°de l \ kl \ km. ‖m. ‖ //1/ a1/ al bi \ l bi \ ‖ ‖

will / will / /(after I, you, he, she, a/(after I, you, he, she, a 1\ k 1\ k:l ju. ‖:l ju. ‖ we, you, they)we, you, they) /1/ (after consonants /1/ (after consonants t 1\ du:. ‖t 1\ du:. ‖ except /1/)except /1/) //1/ (after vowels and /l/) 1/ (after vowels and /l/) b b1 lu:zl1 lu:zl

︱︱ n n 1\ w1\ w. ‖. ‖ must /mmust /mst / ( before vowels) ju mst / ( before vowels) ju mst \ st \

upupn it. ‖n it. ‖ /m/ms/ ( before consonants) ju ms/ ( before consonants) ju ms\ tel s\ tel

hhm. ‖m. ‖

DeterminersDeterminers

a // (before consonants) ︳ hv °kp v \ ti:. ‖ an /n/ ( before vowels) ︳ hv n \ p 1. ‖ /n/ (in rapid speech, parti hi ︳ h n \ di. ‖ -cularly after an alveolar or palato-alveolar consonant) the // (before consonants) ︳ : \ s:t °pli:z. ‖ /i/ (before vowels) a ︳ d z \ ret. ‖ some /sm, sm/ ︳ kn ju °v mi s / pei.p? (When some means "a certain quantity", it is always accented and pronounced as /sm/: ︳ sm \ frendz.)

PrepositionsPrepositions

at /at /t/ t/ ﬞ ﬞ llst °wi:kst °wi:k ︱︱︳︳ steid steid t \ ht \ h. ‖. ‖for /ffor /f/( before consonants) /( before consonants) ︳︳ kkm fm f \ 1 \ 1ntnt, pli, pli ‖ ‖ /f/fr, fr/( before vowels) aimr, fr/( before vowels) aim ︳︳ ddst \ dast \ da f fr r / d / dk. ‖k. ‖from /frfrom /frm,fm,fm/ hi m/ hi ︳︳ kkms frms fr \ 1 \ 1ndndn. ‖n. ‖of /of /v/ \ sv/ \ sm m v v s. ‖s. ‖to /tto /t/ ( before consonants) wi/ ( before consonants) wi ︳︳ tt:kt t:kt t \ me \ meri. ‖ri. ‖ /tu/ (before vowels and in w/tu/ (before vowels and in w ︳︳ bebed d m tu m tu \ \ ri: ‖ri: ‖ final position) ju final position) ju ︳︳ ddunt \ hunt \ hv tu. ‖v tu. ‖

ThereThere

When there is used as an adverb of place and direction, it has no weak When there is used as an adverb of place and direction, it has no weak form and should be pronounced as /form and should be pronounced as /(r)/, as in “ (r)/, as in “ ︳︳ All of us are\ All of us are\ there”.there”.

However, when there is used to introduce a sentence which states However, when there is used to introduce a sentence which states that something exists, usually its weak form is used. Here are the two that something exists, usually its weak form is used. Here are the two most commonly used pronunciation for most commonly used pronunciation for there isthere is and and there are there are respectively:respectively:

there is /there is /z/ z/ z 'nz 'n \ w\ wtt ‖ ‖ there are /there are /rr/ / r r 'ver'ver°fain \ vju:z. ‖°fain \ vju:z. ‖

Contracted formsContracted forms

Certain English contracted verbs have special contracted forms when Certain English contracted verbs have special contracted forms when combined withcombined with not not which has the weak form /nt/ after vowels and /nt/ which has the weak form /nt/ after vowels and /nt/ after consonants when it follows after consonants when it follows are, is, should,are, is, should, would , has, have, would , has, have, could, dare, might. could, dare, might. Special attention should be given to the negative Special attention should be given to the negative forms of forms of can, shall, will, do, mustcan, shall, will, do, must. For example:. For example:

can't /kcan't /k:nt/ ai :nt/ ai ︳︳ kk:nt :nt \ \ ri: wiri: wi ju. ju. shan't /shan't // / ︳ ︳ :nt °:nt °ntnt m m ° °u:m u:m \ \ . ‖. ‖ won't /wwon't /wnt/ ant/ a ︳ ︳ wwt°let ju \ t°let ju \ !1 !1 don't /ddon't /dunt/ wi unt/ wi ︳︳ ddnt lant lak it ‖k it ‖ mustn't /'mmustn't /'m..nt/ ju 'nt/ ju ' nt \ du: nt \ du: t. ‖t. ‖

The use of strong formsThe use of strong forms

Although the weak forms mentioned in the previous part is common in Although the weak forms mentioned in the previous part is common in English, their strong forms must be used in the following eases:English, their strong forms must be used in the following eases:

1) Whenever the word is stressed, e. g.1) Whenever the word is stressed, e. g. / k/ kn an a? ‖? ‖ ︳︳ ww w wn dn d ju \ t ju \ tu:z, u:z, ︱︱ / / s s : \ : \ m?m? ai ai ︳︳ sed \ ei / ssed \ ei / sn, n, ︱ ︳ ︱ ︳ nnt\ t\ i: si: sn. ‖n. ‖ 2) Whenever the word is in a final position in a tone unit, except the 2) Whenever the word is in a final position in a tone unit, except the

personal pronouns personal pronouns he, himhe, him, , his, her, them, us ,his, her, them, us ,e. g. e. g. ︳︳wwts \ ts \ t ft f:? ‖:? ‖ aid \ 1aid \ 1 tu:. ‖ tu:. ‖ ﬞ ﬞ m hm hz. ‖z. ‖ 3) Some prepositions, when occur before an unstressed pronoun, may 3) Some prepositions, when occur before an unstressed pronoun, may

either use the strong or weak form.either use the strong or weak form. ︳︳mmst st v (or /v (or /v/ ) v/ ) \ ke \ kess . ‖. ‖ aav bin \ wev bin \ wett f f (or /f (or /f:/) ju. ‖:/) ju. ‖

ExerciseExercise

1. Now listen and repeat.1. Now listen and repeat. a cup of tea a loaf of bread a bundle of flowersa cup of tea a loaf of bread a bundle of flowers at the door in the field have an ideaat the door in the field have an idea coming and going sons and daughters in and outcoming and going sons and daughters in and out tell him about it give her a lesson Yes, he has.tell him about it give her a lesson Yes, he has. drive them home some of them most of usdrive them home some of them most of us from all over the world from above come from Londonfrom all over the world from above come from London the office for the sake of for a long timethe office for the sake of for a long time Yes, I'd like to. come to me as it isYes, I'd like to. come to me as it is It was late. You are correct. He is wonderful.It was late. You are correct. He is wonderful. Does he like her? Do you know that? Yes, I do.Does he like her? Do you know that? Yes, I do. No, I don't, Yes, she does. I've been there for two times.No, I don't, Yes, she does. I've been there for two times. There are two of them. There is a car over there. He's two sons.There are two of them. There is a car over there. He's two sons. We can not do it. You mustn't do that. That will do.We can not do it. You mustn't do that. That will do.

ExerciseExercise

2. Now try the same with the following sentences.2. Now try the same with the following sentences. (1) We were very worried.(1) We were very worried. (2) I'm just dying for a drink,(2) I'm just dying for a drink, (3) There wasn't a single woman.(3) There wasn't a single woman. (4) There are some very fine views.(4) There are some very fine views. (5) Which month suits the others?(5) Which month suits the others? (6) We talked to Tom.(6) We talked to Tom. (7) They stood by and watched.(7) They stood by and watched. (8) His beard gives him a very fierce appearance.(8) His beard gives him a very fierce appearance. (9) We're so weary of hearing his ideas.(9) We're so weary of hearing his ideas. (10) How far is it to the Town Hall?(10) How far is it to the Town Hall? (11) What can we suggest to them for Christmas?(11) What can we suggest to them for Christmas? (12) How much can you let my mother have?(12) How much can you let my mother have? (13) Haven't you heard from Harry Atkins?,(13) Haven't you heard from Harry Atkins?, (14) Most of them are missing.(14) Most of them are missing. (15) Has he taken his umbrella with him?.(15) Has he taken his umbrella with him?.

ExerciseExercise

3. Listen to the tape. Pay special attention to the pronunciation of the 3. Listen to the tape. Pay special attention to the pronunciation of the italicized words. Then read after the tape.italicized words. Then read after the tape.

I I havehave just received just received aa letter letter fromfrom my brother, Tim. my brother, Tim. He isHe is in Australia. in Australia. He He has beenhas been there there forfor six months. Tim is six months. Tim is an an engineer. engineer. He isHe is working working forfor a big firm a big firm and he hasand he has already visited already visited aa great number great number of of different different places in Australia. places in Australia. He hasHe has just bought just bought anan Australian car Australian car and hasand has gone gone toto Alice Springs, Alice Springs, aa small town in small town in thethe center center ofof Australia. Australia. He willHe will soon soon visit Darwin. visit Darwin. From there,From there, he will he will fly to Perth. My brother fly to Perth. My brother hashas never never beenbeen abroad before, so he abroad before, so he isis finding this trip very exciting. finding this trip very exciting.

(Adapted from New Concept English , Book II, Lesson (Adapted from New Concept English , Book II, Lesson 4)4)