stress and rhythm

stressandrhythmInordertokeepgoodrhythm,wemusttrytoavoidpronouncingeachwordasifitwereisolated.ThespeechrhythminEnglishiscloselyrelatedtothefollowingaspectsinconnectedspeech:lengthofthesounds,soundlinking,assimilationandelision,strongandweakformsofthewords,wordstressandsentencestressandstressgroups.I.Rhythmandthelengthofsounds1.Vowelsarelongerwhenfinalorfollowedbyavoicedconsonantthanwhenfollowedbyavoicelessconsonant.2.Vowelsarelongerisstressedmonosyllablesthanwhenfollowedbyanunstressedsyllableorsyllables.3.Vowelsarelongerinstressedsyllablesthaninunstressedsyllables.II.RhythmandsoundlinkingInEnglishwetalknotinindividualwords,butingroupsofwordsorphrases.Onewordisnotseparatedfromanotherbypauseorhesitation:theendofonewordflowsstraightontothebeginningofthenext.Thisismainlytoensureagoodrhythm.III.RhythmandassimilationAssimilationisverycommonincolloquialEnglish.Ittakesplacemostfrequentlyinconsonants.Thereasonwhypeopleuseassimilationistheeaseofarticulation:tomakethepronunciationofthedissimilarconsonantseasier.IV.RhythmandweakformsTomaintaintherhythmofspeechinEnglish,stressedsyllablesmustbespokenatregularintervalsoftimeandtheunstressedsyllablesfilledintothegapsbetweenthestresses.V.RhythmandstressEverywordoftwoormoresyllableswhensaidaloneinEnglishhasastressononeofitssyllables,butinconnectedspeech,wedonothearastressoneveryword.Inasentence,somewordsarestressedwhileothersarenot.Thisiscalledsentencestress.Sentencestresshastwomainfunctions:toindicatetheimportantwordsinthesentenceandtoservethebasisfortherhythmicalstructureofthesentence.TherhythmofEnglishspeechisformedbytherecurrenceofstressedsyllablesatmoreorlessregularintervalsoftimeandbythealternationofstressedandunstressedsyllables.I’dloveto. Ofcoursenot. Theyhaveto. She’sreading. Withpleasure.  Justlisten.Ihopeitis. Shecamewithme. Ipaidforit.Theygavehersome. We’vefinishedit.Itusedtobe.     Iwrotetohim.Givehimsomemore. Singusasong.Turnonthelight.   Wherehaveyoubeen?Showmeyourhand.  Leaveitalone.I’mlookingforit.   I’mworkingforthem.AnEnglishteacher.  Therailwaystation.I’llgiveittohim.   Anexercise-book.Hewantstocome.  Theydiditwell.It’squiteallright.   Heknewhecould.Theyputthemon.   It’sverygood.Theyaskedmetogo.  Hetoldusalie.Ipaidforthemeal.   She’sgoneforthefilm.Thebestintheclass.  Theywaitedfortheboss.Mostofthemhavegone. Havingsomemoretea.Hopingthatshe’llcome. Carrythemaway.Thechildrenareinthebed. Youonlyhavetogo.Wepromisedtobethere. It’sdifficulttolearn.I’llseehiminthegate. You’rewantedonthephone.I’dliketomeethim. Heplaysformoney.Icouldn’thelpit.   I’dliketomeethim.HeleftforSunday. She’sreadingstories.Hestartedtotalktous.I’llborrowanewonethere.Theytalkedwithhergrandfather.Iboughtthemsomechocolate.Iknewyouwouldcometous.It’snottheoneIborrowedfromyou.Ithoughtitmightbenecessary.It’sinterestingtoreadaboutit.Iknowhediditbeautifully.I’msurethatyoucanwriteaboutit.Shedoesn’twanttotalkabouthim.Rememberwhatyourteachertellsyou.Ithinkyouwanttogothere.I’dliketotakeanewone.Theyoughttogiveananswer.It’snotforboysandgirls.Ithinkthathewantsustogo.Itisn’tthesameasbefore.He’sgoneforawalkinthepark.Perhapsyoucancallhertonight.I’msurehe’sasquickasyouare.Youshouldn’thaveleftittoher.Idon’twanttotalktoyounow.Ithinkitwasanexcellentapproach.Iwonderifhe’lltelltheminadvance.We’llswitchitonassoonastheyarehere.Hewantedmetolistentohissong.Theothersmustwaitherealittlewhile.Ishouldn’tbesurprisediftheyforgot.We’llfetchyouinacarinhalfanhour.Hecamelikeamanwithaflowerinhishand.Itmustbethefirstofthebookshehasread.Shesaysthatshewantsustotakeitaway.Ishouldn’thavethoughthecouldgethereintime.Itwon’tbethefirsttimeI’vegonewithoutlunch.It’snotwhatIwantedtoaskyouabout.Anappleadaykeepsadoctoraway.