Pronunciation

exercises
Sound, stress, intonation
Hints on pronunciation for foreigners

I take it you already know

Of tough and bough and cough and dough?
Others may stumble but not you
Or hiccough, thorough laugh and through?
Well done: And now you wish perhaps
To learn of these familiar traps:

Beware of heard a dreadful word

That looks like beard and sounds like bird.
And dead: It's said like bed, not bead,
For goodness' sake, don't call it deed!
Watch out for meat and great and threat,
They rhyme with suite and straight and debt.
A moth is not a moth in mother
Nor both in bother, broth in brother.
And here is not a match for there
Nor dear and fear for bear and pear
And then there's does and rose and lose,
Just look them up; and goose and choose.

And cork and work and hard and ward

And font and front and word and sword.
And do and go and thwart and part –
Come, come, I've hardly made a start!
A dreadful language?
Man alive, I'd mastered it when I was five!
(Anon)

1
 Pronunciatio
n
Why is pronunciation necessary?
language

grammar Vocabulary or lexis pronunciation

a) Structures (the patterns that can be seen in these are usually called grammar of
the language.

b) Words that convey meaning (vocabulary or lexis).

c) Sound, stress, and intonation patterns, which combine to make "Pronunciation".

If you communicate only through the written word, you will need only the first two of these
components. If, on the other hand, you want to be able to understand spoken language, and to
be understood, you’ll need all three components.

Communication is a two-way process:

a) Understanding other people when they speak.
b) Conveying what you want to say so that other people can understand you.

If you have no idea, for instance, that there is an important difference in English between
"s" and "sh" (phonetically written [s] and [ ] and furthermore you can't distinguish
between the two, you won't know how to react if someone asks you to "bring the
seat"
- or was it the sheet? This situation doesn't seem very serious, but it could be. There
are hundreds of stories told of misunderstandings caused by mispronunciation.
Sometimes there is laughter, sometimes people walk out in anger, and on at least one
occasion there was nearly an International Incident. Suppose there were two or three
"mistakes" in your pronunciation. The consequences could be
 offence to the listener,
 misunderstanding by the listener,
 a listener too exhausted by the effort of trying to interpret what it is you’re
trying to say that he gives up and goes and talks to someone else.

Not a very happy prospect! Let’s minimize the dangers!

2
 Vowel Practice: Monophthongs
is articulated with the jaws very close together and the lips tensely spread.
This is a tense vowel.
seat, feel, sheep, heel, feet, leaves...

This is a very relaxed sound. The tongue lies with no tension on the bottom of the mouth, the
lips are relaxed, slightly spread.
sit, fill, ship, hill, fit, lives,
primitive, ministry, distinguishing, Mississippi, thick-skinned, British history, fish and chips

In comparison to [i] the lips are spread more tensely and the jaws are slightly farther apart.
This is a relaxed sound like [i].
bed, bend, dead, guess, head, lend,....
Ken, when, send, never, adventure, heavy, said, again, bury, ate, many, lemon, weather,

In comparison to [e] the jaws are farther apart, and the lips are not so tensely spread, bad,
band, dad, gas, had, land, Jack, crackle, sprang, Sam, understand, apple, album, palace bag,
bat, cap, cat, hat, lamp, match,...

The jaws are pretty far apart and the lips must not be rounded. The vowel has a "dark"
quality.
calf, card, cart, clerk, dark, darn, heart, glass, car, starved, France, ask, can't, father, half
art, Arthur, barn, cart, darn, far, park, part

The jaws are not quite so far apart as for [a:]. It is a little "darker" than the German vowel in
"Matte". The lips are slightly more spread than for [a:]. It's a relaxed, short sound
bug, but, cup, cut, hut, lump, much,. . .fun, cut, stuck, shut, stung, onion, honey, money,
wonder, cover, rough, touch, does, flood

has the same articulation as [a:], but the lips are rounded.
cough, cod, clock, dock, don, hot, boss, box, doctor, quality, Austria, problem, cloth, bother

The jaws are closer together than for the previous sound and the lips are more closely
rounded.
ought, author, born, court, dawn, four, pork, port, or, roar, glory, salt, taught, daughter

is more open than the previous sound and the lips are extremely relaxed
good, put, should, ......

is articulated with the jaws very close together and the lips closely rounded and slightly
protruded.
do, fool, nuisance, queue, shoe, you, fuse, few, true, juice, huge, lose, who, museum,

The lips must not be rounded as for the German "ö"-sound. The jaws must not be too far apart
and must not be moving during the articulation of the vowel,
bird, curl, her, murmur, purr, stir, world, ....

can only occur in an unstressed syllable. The articulation is the same as for the previous
sound, only much shorter,
a, ago,......

3
 Vowel - Practice : Diphthongs
A diphthong is a vowel-sound containing two elements, during the articulation of
which the tongue, jaws and lips change their position. In all English diphthongs the
first element is considerably stronger than the second.

The first element in [ei] is produced with the jaws closer together than for the
monophthong [e]
eight, date, gate, late, main, mate, pain,....

For the first element the jaws are farther apart than for the vowel [æ]. Be sure
that the second element is not [i:] as in "bead"[bi:], but a sound between [i] as
in "bid" and [e] as in "bed" [bed]. The second element is extremely short.
my, nine, reply, rise, climb, wine, arrive,....

For the first element the jaws are far apart and the lips are openly rounded.
For the second element see the description of [au].
noise, annoying, boil, enjoy, appointment, oyster,...

The first element is the same as in "bird", but shorter. For the second element
see the description of [au]
no, coast, coat, code, holy, hope, own, road, won't

For the first element see the preceding description. Be sure that the [a] is not
pronounced with a too "dark" a.
now, foul, crown, brown, fountain, doubt......

The first element is similar to the vowel [i] in "bid", i.e. the jaws should not
be too close together, nor the lips too tensely spread. During the articulation
the jaws open slightly.
beer, cheers, dear, fear, here, peer, tear,..

The first element is more open than the vowel [e] in "bed", i.e. the jaws are
quite far apart and the lips are laxly spread. During the articulation of the
sound the jaws open slightly. For the second element see above.
bear, chairs, dare, fare, hair, pair, tear,....

This diphthong is a combination of the two vowels already described

tour, sure, pure, cure, during, newer, curious,....

4
5
 [ ] Busy in the kitchen [ ] Weeding's not for me!
Billy: Mummy! Are you Peter: This is the season for weeds. We'll
busy? Mother: Yes, I 'm in the each weed three metres before tea,
kitchen. Billy: Can I go easily.
swimming in Celia: Do we kneel? My knees are weak.
Chichester with Jim this Do you mean all these?
morning? Peter: Celia, my sweet, those aren't weeds,
Mother: Jim? those are seedlings. Beans, peas and
Billy: Jim English. He's living with leeks. Can't you see?
Mr. and Mrs. Willis in the village Celia: If they're green they're weeds to me.
- Spring Cottage. But I agree, Peter - weeding’s not for
Mother: Isn't it a bit chilly to go me!
swimming? Peter: Well, let me see. May be we'll leave
Billy: What's this? Can I pinch a bit of
it? the weeds. You see these leaves?
Mother: Oh, Billy, you little pig! It's If you sweep them into a heap
figgy pudding. Get your fingers under that tree I'll see to the tea.
Celia: Pete, my feet are freezing. You
out of it! sweep the leaves. I'll see to the tea!
Billy: Women are so silly! I
only dipped a little finger
in.
Mother: Well, it's filthy little finger. Here,
tip this chicken skin into the bin
and I'll give you a biscuit.
[ ] Crackle, crackle, Galactic Static
[ ] The end of the adventure
Gran: Jack, Do you have to bang and slam on
Ken: Ted, Thank heaven! that piano like that? Jack: I'm
I was getting desperate. practicing for our new album. It's
Ted: Hello there, Ken. smashing.
Where are Jeff and the rest Gran: An album? You mean that racket you
of the men? and your gang bash out?
Ken: They left me in the tent with some Jack: We're not a gang, we're a fantastic jazz
eggs and some bread, and off band. Sally and Janet, me on the piano,
they went. Alec on the sax - the Galactic Static. It'll
Ted: Where were they heading? be an absolute smash hit.
Ken: West. In that direction. They said Gran: The Galactic Racket, if you ask me.
they'd bury the treasure under the And you'll smash is Granddad’s piano.
dead elm – you remember, by the Jack: Gran, we have talent. We're cool cats,
bend in the fence - and get back by man. Crackle, crackle, Galactic Static!
sunset. Gran: The young man's mad. Here. I've made
Ted: All ten of them went? you a fat ham sandwich and a crab-
Ken: They said the chest was apple jam flan.
heavy. Ted: They left - when? Jack: Ah, Gran, you may not understand jazz
Ken: Yesterday, between ten and but your flans are fab.
eleven. Ted: And you let them?
Ken: There were ten of them....
Ted: Well, my friend, I reckon that's the
end Of the adventure. We'll never see
the treasure chest or any of those ten
men again.
6
 [ ] The bungalow's flooded [ E What’s wrong with the blonde
Duncan: Jump up, Cuthbert! The popsy?
bungalow's flooded!
Cuthbert: The bungalow? Flooded? Bob: Sorry, Tom. I wasn't gone long, was I?
Duncan: Come on, hurry up. My God! What's wrong with the blonde
Cuthbert: Just our luck! We're comfortably
popsy? She looks odd - sort of floppy.
in London for a month, come
Tom: No longer a blonde popsy, old cock - a
down to the country on Sunday -
body.
and on Monday we're flooded!
Bob: Oh my God! You gone off your rocker?
Trust us!
I just pop off to the shop for a spot of....
Duncan: Shut up! Come on, double up the
rugs and stuff them above the Tom: Stop your slobbering, you clot! So we
cupboard. Chuck me that shovel. got a spot of bother. Come on, we got to
There's a ton of rubble that I dug squash the blonde into this box and then
out of the rubbish dump. I'll shove I want lots of cloths and a pot of water -
it under the front door - it seems to hot - and probably a mop - to wash off
be coming from the front. all these spots.
Cuthbert: Duncan! I'm stuck! Bob: Clobbering a blonde! It's not on, Tom!
Duncan: Oh, brother! You're as much Tom: Put a sock on it, Bob, or I'll
use as a bloody duck! knock your block off! (Knock, knock.)
Cuthbert: If I 'd been a duck, I could have Bob: Oh my God! What's that knocking?
swum! Oh crumbs! The mud's Tom, Tom, it's a copper!
coming in under the other one!
We're done for! We'll be sucked
into the disgusting stuff!
Duncan: Hush! How wonderful! The
current's suddenly swung. It's not
going to touch us... unless.. I
wonder

[ ] Making a pass at Martha [ ] Fawns, horses and a tortoise

Charlie: The dance doesn't start till half past, Paul: Any more of these awful autumn
Martha. Let's park the car under the arch by storms, George, and we’ll be short of
Farmer Palmer's barn. It's not far. Ah, corn. I ought to have bought some
here we are. There's the farm cart.
more in Northport.
Martha: Ooh, Charlie, it's dark!
George: This morning, just before dawn, I
Charlie: The stars are sparkling. My heart is thought I saw signs of a thaw. I was
enchanted. Martha you are - marvellous! sure –
Martha: Your father's car's draughty, Paul: Sssh! Behind that door there are
Charlie. Pass me my scarf. four fawns that were born in the
Charlie: Rather let me clasp you in my storm.
arms, Martha, my darling. They’re all warm in the straw now.
Martha: Ah, Charlie! Your moustache is all nasty George: Poor little fawns! Paul, what’s
and sharp. I can't help laughing. Aren't that snorting next door?
you starved? Here, have half a Mars Bar. Paul: Those are the horses’ stalls. They’re
Ssh! There's a car passing. snorting at my daughter’s tortoise.
Charlie: Keep calm, can't you? It's only Sergeant It always crawls around in the
Barker. He plays darts in the “Bar of the straw.
Star and Garter”. Martha.... darling.... George: If Claud saw us walking across his
Martha: Don't be daft, Charlie! You can't start lawn…. He’s an awful bore about
making a pass till after the dance! his lawn.
7
Oh, Lord, we’re caught! There is
Claud! Now we’re for it!

8
 [ ] Where are you, Hugh? [ ]How’s my pert little turtledove?

Lucy: Hugh? Yoo? Yoo hoo! Hugh! Where 1st bird: How’s my pert little turtledove this
are you? early, pearly, murmuring morn?
Hugh: I’m in the loo. Where are you? 2nd bird: I think I’m worse. I can’t turn on my
Lucy: Removing my boots. I’ve got news for perch. And I’m permanently thirsty –
you. burning, burning. It’s murder.
Hugh: News? Amusing news? 1 bird: My poor, hurt bird. The world’s astir.
st

Lucy: Well, I saw June in Kew. You know I’ve heard that even worms are turning.
how moody and rude she is as a rule? A worm! You yearn for a worm!
Hugh, are you still in the loo? What are 2 bird: I’m allergic to worms. Ugh! Dirty,
nd

you doing? squirming worms!

Hugh: Well, you see, Lucy, I was using the 1 bird: I’ll search under the fur trees and the
st

new foolproof screwdriver on the birches, I’ll circle the earth – and I’ll
Hoover and it blew a fuse. return with a superb firm earthworm for
Lucy: You fool! I knew that if I left it to you, my perfect turtledove.
you’d do something stupid. You 2 bird: What an absurd bird! You’re very
nd

usually do. chirpy, Sir. I wish I were. All this fervid

Hugh: And then I dropped the screwdriver verse. I find it disturbing so early. I
down the loo. prefer a less wordy bird.
Lucy: Hugh! Look at your shoes! And 1st bird: No further word, then. I’m a bird with
your new blue suit! It’s ruined! And a purpose. Er – I’d better fly; it’s the early
you – you’re wet through! bird that catches the worm – or so I’ve
Hugh: To tell you the truth, Lucy – I fell heard.
into the loo, too.

[ ], [ ], [ ]
James Doyle and the boilermakers’ strike

Old gentleman: I say! What’s all that frightful noise?

Boy: It’s the boilermakers from Tyneside. They’re on strike. I’m on the way
to join them.
Old gentleman: You a boilermaker?
Boy: Me? No, I slave for United Alloys. But I’ll add my voice to anyone
fighting for his rights.
Old gentleman: Wait! Why are they striking this time?
Boy: A rise in wages mainly – and overtime for nights.
Old gentleman: Why don’t they use their brains? A rise in pay means rising prices and greater
inflation. What’s the point? Who gains?
Boy: That’s blackmail, mate. There’s high unemployment in Tyneside and
the employers exploit the situation. They pay a high trained
boilermaker starvation wages. It’s a disgrace.
Old gentleman: What’s your name?
Boy: James Doyle. I come from a line from fighters. My aunt Jane chained
herself to the railings in 1809. She was quite famous.
Old gentleman: I shall be highly approved if you tie yourself to mine!

9
 English pronunciation
a tree three leaves a bee a sheep
i: a fleet a sea ice-cream for tea Stephan meets Eve
Stephan is greedy. He eats three pieces of cheese.
Asleep. Stephan dreams of Eve. He sees Eve fleeing from three beasts.

ink a ship a fish a biscuit a tin whistle a big pig a little kitten
i a kitchen sink with dishes in it
Which of the six thin women is a wicked witch?

a sheep a ship a bean a bin a meal a mill a lead a lid

i: / i Jean likes gin.....but gin doesn't like Jean!
Sleepy Freda seeks size six slippers to fit her feet. Fish and chips are cheap
and easy to eat.

a leg a tent a penny a letter a wren's nest seven pets a treasure chest
e ten well-dressed men a wedding-dress
eleven hens with twelve eggs in ten nests.

a hand a map a stamp a flag a tank a jazz band

a fat man clapping his hands a black cat catching a fat rat.
Anne has plaits and black slacks. Harry has a hacking jacket.
Harry and Anne are standing hand in hand.

a pat a pet one man many men a net a gnat

e/ pedalling paddling Ted has Dad’s hat on his head
Jack’s Czech friend Franz is very expansive.
Franz’s French friend is very expensive.

a puff a cup a glove a gun a jump a duck a country cousin

a lovely crusty buttered bun for supper.
Cuthbert puts some mustard on his Mother's custard.
a thump
Cuthbert's young brother wonders why Mother doesn't love her other son.

a hat a hut, a battler a butler, a stamp a stump a banker a

/ bunker These windows were shattered. These windows were
shuttered,
mashed potatoes with butter / mushed potatoes with batter

a heart a harp an arm a mast a bard a castle

a: a palm a carpet a fast car a farm-cart a dark barn in a large farm-yard Mark
can't park his car in the barn because of a calf and a large cart blocking the
farmyard.

10
 a park a puck, a carp a cup, a larva a lover
a barking horse a bucking horse
a:/
a dog a fog a blot a chop a shop a lot of knots
a dog squatting on a rotten log
John Olive, John is strong Olive is not
John is a docker Olive is a shopper
Olive watches John load a locked strong-box on a yacht in a lock at the dock.

/ a dun a don, a hug a hog, a suck a sock, a buddy a body The

zoologist wonders about bugs. The botanist wanders about bogs.

a darn a don, a tart a tot, a shark a shock, a Rajah Roger This cross-
a: / country runner is last. This cross-county runner is lost.

A thought a talk a yawn a call a stormy dawn

Maud is short Paul is tall
Maud is walking on the lawn. Paul is crawling along the wall.
Maud warns Paul, “You’ll fall!” “Not at all!” retorts Paul.

a cork a cock, a dawn a don, a sport a spot,

/ a corset to cosset, a warm water bottle a dog’s paw

a butcher a cook a bull a rook

The cook looks at her cookery book. She puts some sugar in the pudding.
The pudding looks good.
Look at Luke, pulling a poor fool out of the pool in the wood.
/ This foolish, bookish Duke is too full of good food to move a foot.

a new moon a rude uncouth youth a brute a goose a stool

two new shoes a few used boots
Hugh Sue Hugh's tooth is loose. Sue is beautiful.
Hugh shoots a moose and loses his loose tooth.
Sue is foolish and stupid at school as a rule.

Murtle her purse her curl her jersey her skirt a dirty turtle
an early bird with a squirming earth-worm a serpent lurking amid the ferns
Pearl Pearl is a circus girl.
An earl gave Pearl a fur and a circlet of pearls for her thirty-first birthday.

11
 a balloon a banana a cactus a cormorant an abacus
a fashionable photographer an adventurous professor
an amateur astrologer a professional astronomer

Alderman Sir Edward Anderson is a prosperous government official at the

Treasury. The comfortable apartment of Sir Edward Anderson at Aldeburgh.
A professional burglar has entered the apartment by a ladder that was at the back
of the house.
But an observant amateur photographer has focused a camera on the burglar and
summoned a police-constable.
As the burglar leaves there is a policeman at the bottom of the ladder.

a space ship a sailor a mate a great

wave daybreak a grey, rainy day
ei a train waiting at the railway station.
James plays with trains and planes. Jane bakes eight
cakes. James Jane James takes a cake from Jane’s
plate.

an eye a wide smile a white kite flying high in the

sky a stile a bicycle a child five
white mice Clive and Dinah
ai Clive climbs high spires at night. Dinah is quite nice, but frightfully shy.
Clive decides to invite Dinah to dine. He tries to find a fine white wine.
Dinah decides she would like to dine with Clive and arrives on time, but
politely
declines the fine white wine.

Mr Hoyle a boy a quoit soil

Mr Hoyle toils with the soil The boy is adroit with his quoit.
a choice moist oyster a loyal royalist Roy Joyce
Roy is a noisy boy. Joyce is spoilt and coy.
Joyce enjoys annoying Roy. Roy destroys Joyce's choicest toys.

a taste a test, a sailor a seller,

they raced I rest
/ David failed his exam.......so he felled his examiner!
Jane sails boats. Jen sells boots.

to lay to lay, a pain a pine,

the lake that I like
/ David baits his hook.....and a whiting bites it.

good boys good-byes, a point a pint, a foil a file Joyce walks off with
poise. Giles walks off with pies.
/

12
 a goat, a cone, a note, an overcoat, poached eggs on
toast an old coastal boat – Joan Joe
Joan is combing her golden hair. Joe has a noble Roman nose.
Joe and Joan go for a stroll. Joe shows Joan his roses.
Joan won't go home alone, so Joe goes home with Joan.

a scowl a cloud a cow a scout a plough a rout

This owl has found a brown mouse on the ground.
A hound with a grouse in its mouth.
proud cowed mountains and fountains a round house
The loud shouts and howls of the crowd of louts from the town drown the
sound of the vows of the devout on the mound.

a phone a faun, a load a lord, a stoke a stalker

/ John has bought his adoring daughter Joan a motor-boat with an outboard
motor.

/ coals curls, a joke a jerk, floating flirting

/ a hope a hoop, a roller a ruler, a goal a ghoul

/ a bow a bow, a crone a crown, a foal a fowl,

a cold figure a cowled figure

we conspire a spire a higher spire a fire a tyre some wire

/ a towel a tower our shower in a flowery bower
Howard is a coward, says Brian.
Brian is a liar, says Howard. Brian glowers sourly at Howard

A seer a spear fear a deer a tear

a theatre A dreary peer sneers in the grand tier.
At the rear they hear the peer and jeer.
But here, clearly the cheers for the hero are fierce.
The wary hero (King Lear) is nearly in tears.

tear swear share despair various pairs of things to

wear Mary - Mary is scared of fairies in the dairy
Sarah - Sarah has fair hair.
Fair-haired Sarah stares warily at the hairy bear, glaring from his lair.

13
 Consonant Practice
a church an arch a chubby child a chair a watch-chain and
watch
Charles scratching his itching chin.
Charles is a cheerful chicken-farmer
A poacher is watching Charles' chickens, choosing which to snatch.
He chucks at the chance of a choice chicken to chew for his lunch.
But the chuckle reaches Charles, who chases the poacher and catches him.

a jelly a juicy orange a large jug gingerbread a jam-jar Jeremy

Jones an
aged judge a jolly jury
The aged judge urges the jury to be just but generous

a chick a jug a chill Jill

a huge treasure chest on a large Chinese junk
/ Joe plays Jazz - Richard plays chess

a finger a fly a face a knife half a loaf

four friends fifteen ruffians
f The rough tough ruffians make fierce faces to frighten the four friends
The friends fight off the ruffians
Four oafs fall flat on the floor, and the rest flee in fear

a stove a vest vice virtue

seven devils a village vicar
Victor, Vivian, Eve, Vivienne, every evening
v Victor and Vivian are rivals. Both vow to love Eve forever.
But Eve is very vain, Vivienne is vivacious and full of verve.
Eventually, Victor gives Eve up and goes over to Vivienne, leaving Eve to
Vivian.

33 333 3333 333333

Arthur Smith, a thick-set, healthy athlete sees three thieves throw a thong round
Thea's throat and threaten to throttle her. He throws one thug to earth with a
thud that shakes his teeth. Both the other thieves run off with a filthy oath. Thea
thanks Arthur for thrashing the three thugs.

14
 a laugh a lath a thin Finn
Frances has a First Francis has a
f thirst Philip fought while Philippa
thought
This useful thread is free. This youthful Fred is three.

weather wreaths a feather a leather

tether These bathers are breathing through their
mouths Smooth breathing is rather soothing
These are three brothers This is their other
brother These are their father and mother

some spinsters several mice a saw a saucer seven sausages

Sue and Cecily are sisters.
s Sue is sixteen this summer, Cecily was seventeen last Sunday
Sue is sowing grass seed.
She sees Cecily asleep with a glass of cider and a nice sixpenny ice by her side.
Sue slips across, sips the glass of cider and eats the ice.

a zoo cages prison bars a zebra a zebu daisies

z Zoe is visiting the zoo.
A lazy zebra called Desmond is dozing at the zoo.
He feels flies buzzing round his eyes, ears and nose.
He rouses, opens his eyes, rises and goes to Zoe.
Zoe is wearing a rose on her blouse. Zoe gives Desmond these buns.

a thumb a sum a mouth a mouse

/ a path a pass a race a wraith
The cook thickens the soup
The soup sickens the cook
s/z The atheist has lost faith This Asiatic has lost face
The third Thursday of this month is the sixteenth
Mosquitoes are rising. The fishermen are writhing
an endless fence across the endless fens
a few pens costing a few pence

15
 a pair of robins a shipwrecked mariner a tree-trunk
a wreck
r a rope rocks a rubber ring
This rusty wreck has run aground on the rocks of the Barrier Reef
Rowena is very rich and rides her mare in Rotten Row.

Strawberries, raspberries and red-currants with real cream are really

very refreshing.
r This train and its trucks are trapped by a tree-trunk across the track.
Three hundred readers used the library reading room in the period from
February to April, reports the librarian.

rubbish Sheila a rash a shawl a traditional politician

r/ This shop is a fish shop

six sheep a mission station in the bush
Sheila has just finished washing this sheet in her washing-machine
camouflage invasion a vision a tape measure treasure
rouge

w a window
a wicked woman
the Wild West a weeping willow

a sweet white wine a wig

William is worried about woodworm in the woodwork of his wardrobe
Why wouldn't Walter wash with water that wasn't warm?
Walter works at a waxworks and wax won't wash off without warm
water

v/w a vale
a verse
a whale
a worse verse
a viper a wiper

Why is the worse verse worse than the first verse?

William always wears a very warm woollen vest in winter
Victor, however, will never wear woolen underwear, even in the Wild
West

16
 [ ] The great decision
[ ] George's jaw
Dr Jones: Ah, George, jolly good. Just
Jacques: I have made a great decision, Jean. I
exchange your jacket and jeans for
have bought a television
these pyjamas, while I jot down your
Jean: You? Jacques, on how many
injuries in my register. Age, religion,
occasions have you told me that
that's the usual procedure.
television was an intrusion into the
George: Well, Doctor Jones, I was just
privacy of the house, that it destroyed
driving over the bridge on the edge
the pleasures of conversation, that
of the village....
people no longer know how to make
Dr Jones: Half a jiffy. Let's adjourn to the
use of their leisure.....
surgery. I've got a large sandwich and
Jacques : I know, I know. And it's unusual for ajar of orange juice in the fridge. Join
me to suffer a revision of thought, but
me?
on this occasion.....
George: Jeepers! My indigestion....and my
Jean: Where is this treasure?
jaw! I shan't manage...
Jacques: Hidden in the garage. Please make no A generous measure of gin - just the
allusion to it. I shall tell the family Dr. Jones:
job!
casually, as if there were nothing
George: It's my jaw, Doctor. I was on the
unusual in my buying a television.
bridge at the edge of the village. I was
Jean: After years of derision -1 hope you
just adjusting the engine when this
will not be disillusioned by your
soldier jumped out of the hedge....
television.
Dr. Jones: Imagine! He damaged your jaw, did
he? I suggest an injection into the
joint. Just a jiffy. I'll change the
E ] Life is a question of choice syringe.
- or chance George: Oh jeepers! Gently, Dr Jones!
Charles: If you could recapture your
childhood, Richard, would you
change much? [ ] My birthday's on Thursday
Richard: Life is a sort of arch. Arrival to
Ruth: It's my birthday on Thursday. My
departure. You can't switch direction, sixth birthday,
Charles. Each century brings changes
Arthur: My seventh birthday's on the 13th
but actually, Nature doesn't change.
Charles: But you can reach different decisions. next month, so I'm - let me think -
With television, you can choose 333 days older than you, Ruth.
which channel to watch, switch to Ruth: Do you always put your thumb in
another picture. You could catch a your mouth when you're doing
different train. Given the chance, arithmetic, Arthur?
Richard, would you change trains? My tooth's loose, Ruth. See? I like
Richard: Arthur:
Life is a rich adventure and largely a maths. I came fourth out of 33. My
question of chance. You don't choose father's a mathematician.
your future as you choose a chocolate My father's an author. He writes
or a piece of cheese. Ruth:
Charles: for the theatre. We're very
But, Richard, you do choose. You
forge your own future - a butcher? a
wealthy. When I'm thirty I'll have
cellist? a teacher? a merchant? Each a thousand pounds.
choice suggests a further choice - Arthur: I'm going to be an Olympic athlete.
which tree, which branch, which I may be thin but Mr Smith says
twig? I've got the strength of three.
Richard : Let's adjourn to the kitchen for Watch me. I'll throw this thing the
chicken and chips. No choice for length of the path.
lunch, you see, Charles! Oh Arthur! You've thrown earth all
Charles : But you actually choose chicken and
Ruth:
over us both. I'm filthy! Now
chips! Chops would have been much they'll make me have a bath!
cheaper!

16
 [r] The respective merits of [ ] I'd rather be a mother than a
frogs and rabbits father
Roger: My rabbit can roar like a Father: Where are the others?
Barry: rhinoceros. Rubbish! Rabbits don't Mother: They've gone bathing. Heather and
Roger: roar, Roger. You're wrong, Barry. her brother called for them.
My rabbit's an Arabian rabbit. Father: Heather Feather?
They're very rare. Mother:
When he's angry he races round and
No, the other Heather - Heather
round his rabbit run. And if he's in a Mather. I told them to stay together,
real rage he rushes on to the roof and not to go further than Northern
Barry: and roars. Cove.
How horrid! Really, I prefer my Father: Why didn't you go with them?
Roger: frog. I've christened him Fred. Mother: I'd rather get on with the ironing
Barry: Freddie Frog! How ridiculous! without them.
An abbreviation for Frederick. Well, Father: In this weather? There's a southerly
you remember when I rescued him breeze. One can hardly breathe
from the river last February? He was indoors.
Roger: crying like a canary. He was Mother: Go and have a bathe then.
drowning. Father:
Really, Barry! Frogs don't drown. Another bathe? I can't be bothered.
I'll go with you, though.
Mother: But all these clothes......who'd be a
mother!
Father: I'd rather be a mother than a father!
All those hungry mouths!

The Tonic
The main stress usually comes on the last [r] A dreadful train crash
stressed word of a sentence. Now we shall Prue: Weren't you in that train crash on
see how you can alter the whole meaning of a Friday, Fred?
sentence simply by shifting the point of main Fred: Oh, Prue, it's like a dreadful dream.
stress - the TONIC, as it is called. In the Prue: A tractor - isn't that right? - crossing
sentence "John didn't speak to Mavis", the a bridge with a trailer of fresh fruit
main stress will normally be on "Mavis", crashed through the brick wall in
holding the listener's attention right to the end front of the train?
of the sentence. But if you alter the stress you Fred: Yes. The train driver's a friend of my
can imply all sorts of different meanings: brother's. I was travelling up front
John didn't speak to Mavis. (Peter did) John with him. I was thrown through the
didn't speak to Mavis. ( you've got it all windscreen on to the grass, but he
wrong) was trapped under a huge great crate.
John didn't speak to Mavis, (he wrote to her) I could hear him groaning.
John didn't speak to Mavis, (he spoke to Prue: Fred! How grim!
Anna) Notice how after the Tonic, what's left Fred: I was pretty frightened, Prue, I can
of the sentence stays at the same pitch, with promise you! I crawled through the
very little stress even on normally stressed broken crates and tried to drag him
syllables. free. His throat was crushed. He
Practice shifting the Tonic yourself: couldn't breathe properly, but he
Are you coming to Majorca with us this managed a grin.
summer? Prue: How incredibly brave!
Can you add something to each sentence to
explain the implication of the change of stress
in the sentence?

17
 [f]A fine, flashy fox fur [v] A visit to Vladivostok
Felicity: That's a fine, flashy fox fur you've Oliver: Victor, have you ever visited
flung on the sofa, Daphne. Vladivostok?
Daphne: Yes, I found it on Friday afternoon Victor: Never. In fact, I haven't travelled
in further than Liverpool.
Felicity: Iffley Forest. Oliver: I've had an invitation from the
But, Daphne! That's Fiona's fox fur University of Vladivostok to give a
- survey of my own creative verse.
her fiftieth birthday gift from Victor: How marvellous!
Daphne: Freddie. You are awful! Fiona will Oliver: Will my navy overcoat be heavy
be furious. enough, I wonder? It's long-sleeved
Felicity: Well, if Fiona left her fur in the and reversible. And I've got a pair of
forest...... velvet Levis - rather a vivid violet!
Fiona leave her fabulous fox fur in Do you think the professors will
Daphne: the forest? Stuff and nonsense! view violet Levis with violent
You're a thief! Take it off! disapproval. When do you leave?
Felicity! What a fuss over a faded Oliver: On the 7th of November.
bit Victor: I don't advise you to travel on the
of fluff! Anyway, fancy Fiona in a seventh. It's the anniversary of the
fur! She's far too fat! Valentine Invasion. And for
heaven's sake, Oliver, don't overdo
[f], [v], [w] Twenty foreign the caviar. Or the vodka.
visitors Oliver: Viktor, I do believe you're envious!

Evelyn: What are you giving your foreign [w] Rowena, are you awake?
visitors on Wednesday evening, Edward: Rowena! Are you awake?
Winnie? How many - twelve, is it? Rowena: What? Edward, what's wrong? What
Winnie: Twenty. Twelve of William's time is it?
Swedish representatives, eight of Edward: Oh, about two o'clock.
them with wives. Rowena: In the morning? Oh, go away! What
Evelyn: And what will you feed them on? are you doing?
Winnie: Well, we'll start with watercress Edward: Come to the window, Rowena.
soup, then fish in a white wine Look - the whole world's white,
sauce, flavoured with fennel and there's a wicked wind blowing
chives, followed by stuffed veal through Orwell Wood, whispering
served with cauliflower and.....oh, in the willows, whipping the water
a very wide variety of into waves, while over in the West...
vegetables. Evelyn: Mmm. My Rowena: Oh, waxing poetical! You are off
mouth's watering! your head! I always knew it! Why
Winnie: For sweet we'll have fresh fruit are you wearing your Wellingtons?
soufflé covered with walnuts. And Edward: I want to go out and wander in the
lots of whipped cream, of course, woods. Come with me, Rowena! I
and vanilla wafers. And we'll finish can't wait to go waking in :hat wild
with devilled soft roes. and wonderful weather.
Evelyn: And finally coffee? What a feast! I Rowena: I wish you wouldn't wake me up at
wish I was going to be with you! two in the morning to go on a
wild- goose chase!
Edward: Oh, woman, woman! Stop whining!
What a wet blanket you are!

1
 Sentence rhythm
Intonation I
Stress, rhythm and intonation are, if anything,
Stressed syllables are louder and higher and more important for communication than the
longer than the unstressed ones. e.g. Chinese, correct pronunciation of individual sounds. The
competition, politics, etc. Tonic is the syllable of greatest stress within an
The rule to remember: Within each phrase, utterance. It is also the syllable where most
stresses come at regular intervals of time. "movement" occurs. A sentence with the Tonic at
Here are three groups of numbers of different the end will look like this, the voice rising on
lengths on the paper, but which should take each stressed syllable and the falling slightly
the same amount of time to say: below the pitch it was at before:
two four A farmer went trotting upon his grey mare.
twenty forty
two hundred four hundred
His new book's quite good
The whole sentence seems to be dropping like a
series
his latest novel's a dis- tinct suc- cess of small waterfalls towards the Tonic.
This is called the "rise-fall" intonation pattern.
an out- standing bution to con- temporary literature
contri-
If the Tonic is the last syllable in the sentence, the
voice will slide from high to low within that
syllable.
Elise's hair is green! I bought some food. Jane's away.
Chris: I like your hat, Elise.
Elise: That isn't my hat, it's my hair.
Chris: Your hair? You can't have hair If there are one or more unstressed syllables after
like that. Elise, it's brilliant the Tonic, the voice drops on the following
syllable and there is no further movement until
green!
the end of the phrase or sentence.
Elise: Old women can dye their hair I thought I saw a burglar.
blue. There are plenty who
paint their nails red.
Chris: That's not the same at all. They I thought I saw an alligator.
only stress what nature meant.
Green is... green is....I cannot
find This pattern is used for statements and for
the words. "wh-"-questions (what, when, where, which,
who, whom, whose, why, and - a bit of a cheat -
Elise: Unnatural - is that what you how)-
mean? An appendix operation
is, too. And as for transplanting There is also a plain "falling" pattern, in which
a heart.....!And I love all my does not rise on the Tonic but remains flat and
emerald hair! then falls either within the final syllable or on
Chris: What does Peter think? the following one:
Elise: Oh Christopher! Didn't you I feel sick It's snowing.
know?
Why, his hair is purple and red! The difference between this and the first pattern
is that if you use the second you will sound
distinctly bored or, at the very least, lacking in
enthusiasm.

1
When does the plane leave? You also use this tune with "wh-" questions when
Robert: What's the time? you're asking for information to be repeated. The
Emily: Ten past two, dear. intonation here usually expresses shock or anger,
Robert: When does the plane leave?
implying, "I don't believe you!"
Emily: Not until a quarter to four.
Robert: Why did we get here so early? I saw your girlfriend at the cinema last night.
Emily: Because you said we must allow
plenty of time for traffic jams and accidents. Where did you see her?
Robert: Where's my briefcase? What have you At the cinema. She was with Charlie Brown.
done with my briefcase?
Emily: It's there, dear, between your feet. Robert:
Who was she with? Charlie Brown?
Emily! Where are you going?
Emily: I'm going to ask that gentleman what
they are announcing over the loudspeaker. Practice
Robert: Which gentleman, Emily? Yes, no questions
Robert: Who is he? Are you alone?
Emily: I don't know. But he looked as though ……… Can I come in?
May I sit down?
Are you sure?
Intonation II
The fall-rise pattern Greetings
(yes/no questions, requests for Hello, Peter
repetition, greetings) Good morning, Doctor.
The main movement in the sentence is still on the
Tonic syllable, but this time the voice falls on the Requests for repetition
What did you say?
Tonic and then rises. You use this pattern to ask
When was all this?
questions that require an answer of "Yes" or "No". Which pills did you take?
How did you get in?
I bought some food. Did you buy some food? Why do you think it was me?

I saw a burglar. Did you see a burglar? Intonation III

(pausing in the middle,
I saw an alligator. Did you see an alligator? lists, doubt, apology, etc.)

Intonation is one of the means a speaker uses to send

Did you notice that the second pattern is, in fact, signals to the listener, such as "Don't interrupt me; I
not the exact reverse of the first? In the haven't finished yet", or "That's all for the moment.
statement, once the voice has fallen after the Over to you." If the speaker pauses in the middle of a
sentence, he will stop on a rising tone to show you that
Tonic, it stays at the same level, but in the
he intends to continue.
question the voice continues to rise to the end of
I was about to put my hands inside the box.....
the sentence. Be careful not to rise too sharply,
especially if you
have a lot to add after the Tonic, or you'll end up
in a squeak! when I heard a ticking noise.
Did you see an alligator in the bath at the party last night?

In the first part of the sentence, up to the

The fall-rise pattern is also used for greetings, the pause, the pattern is the ordinary rise-fall one
voice rising and falling on the greeting, and then, of statements, until you come to the Tonic,
on the name that follows falling a little more and which has the fall-rise tune. This fall-rise only
rising again sharply. on the Tonic is frequently used to express
Hallo, Jane? Good evening, Mrs. Bake doubt, hesitation or apology. It can also
imply, ,,Can I help you?"
Well.. I'm sorry. I think I've got it. Dr. Mark's secretary.

2
You use the fall-rise tune, too, when
enumerating lists. Every items on your Intonation = Meaning
list will have its own pattern, each one on A
Is it white?
the same level as the last:
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday..... B
What.
A Is it white or is
If your list is complete, the final item will it blue?
have the rise-fall pattern, indicating to your
listener that that's the lot. This is called a B It's blue.
"closed" list:
I'm free on Monday, Tuesday, A Blue?
Wednesday, Thursday
B I think so.
If you want to show that you could go on but A Well!
leave the rest to your listener's imagination,
you use the fall-rise pattern on the last item as
well. This is called "open" list: Intonation tells emotion / passion /
I'm free on Monday, Tuesday, irony / political beliefs
Wednesday, Thursday...
The Times is read by the people who run this
This implies questions, too: country.
Are you free on Monday or Tuesday or
Wednesday..? If you go to India / you The Financial Times is read by the people
must see the Taj Mahal. who own this country.
Yes. No. Excuse me.
The Mail is read by the wives of the people
We went to Rome and Athens and Beirut who run this country.
and Cairo.
I can offer you tea or coffee or hot chocolate. The Express is read by the people who think
this country should be run as it used to be
Syllable stress - run.
Exaggerate the stressing as much as you can
Photography or politics? The Telegraph is read by the people who
Diana: What have you decided to do after college, think it still is.
Jeremy?
Jeremy: I'm going to take up photography Mr.
McKenzie's recommended the course at the The Guardian is read by the people who think
Institute. He believes I could make a career as they - should be running this country.
a photographer.
Diana: You'll have to develop your own photographs. The Mirror is read by the people who think
That requires technical skills. Jeremy, you're
not a technician! they are.
And photographic materials are very expensive.
Jeremy: Well, Diana, Mr McKenzie thinks there's a The Sun is read by the people who don't care
possibility I might win the Observer competition. "who runs this country as long as she's got
I sent in four entries. All the competitors are big tits".
amateurs, like myself.
Diana: I detest competitions. I never agree with the
decision of the judges! I'm going to be a [high to low = extra power
politician. I shall become the most distinguished low to high = extra power]
woman on the political scene!
Jeremy: I thought you hated competing! Don't tell me
politics :isn’t competitive

21
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Phonetic descriptions: Part 1

Give for each phonetic description the correct word.

Phonetic description English word

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Phonetic descriptions: Part 2

Give for each phonetic description the correct English

word.

Phonetic description English word

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

2
6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Phonetic descriptions: Part 3

Give for each phonetic description the correct English

word.

Phonetic description English word

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

2
 Phonetic descriptions: Part 4

Phonetic description English word

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

9.

10.

Part 5

Phonetic description English word

1.

2.

3.

4.

5.

6.

7.

8.

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