Session 3

 Syllables according to the stress:

- Stressed (main stress)

drastic, alone, plentiful…

- Partially stressed (secondary stress)

contradict, declaration, manifestation…

- Unstressed
paper, forgive, degree, weaker…
 Influence on lexical category:

◦ Rebel (noun) vs. to rebel (verb)

/ˈrebəl/ /rɪˈbel/

 Influence on pronunciation:

◦ Desert vs. Dessert

/ˈdezət/ /dɪˈzɜ:t/
Two-syllable words:
- Nouns and adjectives  First syllable
water, awful, picture, chimney…
/ə/ /ə/ /ə/ /ɪ/

- Verbs  Second syllable

conform, agree, belong, reflect…
/ə/ /ə/ /ɪ/ /ɪ/

- Noun/adj.-verb pairs:
object – object, addict - addict
/ɒ/ /ɪ/ /ə//e/ /æ//ɪ/ /ə//ɪ/
Three-syllable words:
- Nouns and adjectives  First syllable
wonderful, excellent, government, general…
/ə//ə/ /ə//ə/ /ə/ /ə/ /ə//ə/

- Verbs  Second syllable

remember, astonish, establish, develop…
/ɪ/ /ə/ /ə/ /ɪ/ /ɪ/ /ɪ/ /ɪ/ /ə/

 Third syllable (with diphthongs/long vowels)

overlook, redesign, entertain, disbelieve…
/əʊ//ə/ /i:/ /ɪ/ /e/ /ə/ /ɪ//ɪ/
Four and more-syllable words:
· First syllable  Secondary stress on the third syllable
extraverted, pacifism, extricated…

· Second syllable  No secondary stress

forgetfulness, extremity, calamity, photography…

· Third syllable  Secondary stress on the first syllable

accidental, reconstruction, invitation, television…
 Aspects of connected speech:
a) Stress-timed sentences:
· Existence of stressed and unstressed words.

b) Rhythm:
· Weak and strong forms
· Assimilation
· Elision
· Linking / Intrusion

c) Intonation
 Words stressed in the sentence (Content words):
- Nouns
- Lexical Verbs
- Adjectives
- Adverbs

 Words unstressed in the sentence (Function words):

- Determiners (articles, demonstratives, etc.)
- Auxiliary verbs
- Prepositions
- Conjuctions
- Pronouns
* Unless in emphatic / final position
The word chocolate comes from the
language of the Aztecs.
The word chocolate comes from the
language of the Aztecs.
The word chocolate comes from the
language of the Aztecs.
I’m talking to you

What’s that for?

I’m talking to you

What’s that for?

 “you”: Strong form  /ju:/ (/jʊ/)
I’m talking to you
Weak form  /jə/
Have you done the homework?

 “that”: Strong form  /ðæt/

What’s that for?
Weak form  /ðət/
 Where did you buy that shirt?

 “for”: Strong form  /fɔ:/

What’s that for?
Weak form  /fə/
I have something for Peter.
When the sound (phoneme) at the
extreme of a word is influenced by the
sound before or after it, so that it is
changed somehow.

- Progressive: got + that  /gɒt tət/

- Reciprocal: can’t + you  /kɑ:ntʃə/
- Regressive: good morning  /ˈgub ˈmɔ:nɪŋ/
Alveolar consonants changes:
- Plosives: Alveolar + velar  Velar
/t/ + /k, g/  /k/
/d/ + /k,g/  /g/
Alveolar + bilabial  Bilabial
/t/ + /p,b,m/  /p/
/d/ + /p,b,m/  /b/

- Nasal: Alveolar + velar  Velar

Alveolar + bilabial  Bilabial

- Fricatives: Alv. + Palatal (or palato-alv.)  palato-alv.

 Omission of a extreme phoneme in an
unstressed syllable for phonological reasons

- Initial /h/ in weak-form words (have, his…)

Don’t tell her the truth

- Initial /ɪ/ in verb “is” (similar to contraction)

The ceremony is finished
Joining of phonemes in different words up to
insertion of a phoneme unexistent in isolated
pronunciation for phonological reasons.
- Without changing the sound:
Can I have a bit of egg?

- Affecting the sound:

Intrusive /r/: dear Ellen, door open, far away…
Intrusive /j/: he asked, the end…
Intrusive /w/: too often, do all…
 Rising Intonation: Yes/No questions
◦ Did you meet him yesterday?

 Falling Intonation: Declarative sentences

◦ I want a car for my birthday.

- Wh-questions
When are you coming?

 Level Intonation: Expressions of surprise,

boredom…
There is only a way to handle a woman.
The trouble is that nobody knows what it is.
There is only a way to handle a woman.
The trouble is that nobody knows what it is.
There is only a way to handle a woman.
The trouble is that nobody knows what it is.
There is only a way to handle a woman.
The trouble is that nobody knows what it is.

/ˈəʊnlɪ/ /ˈweɪ/ /ˈhændļ/ /ˈwʊmən/

/ˈtrʌbļ/ /ˈnəʊbədɪ/ /ˈnəʊz/ /ˈwɒt/ /ˈɪz/
There is only a way to handle a woman.
The trouble is that nobody knows what it is.

/ˈəʊnlɪ/ /ˈweɪ/ /ˈhændļ/ /ˈwʊmən/

/ˈtrʌbļ/ /ˈnəʊbədɪ/ /ˈnəʊz/ /ˈwɒt/ /ˈɪz/

/ðea/ /ɪz/ /eɪ/ /tu:/ /eɪ/

/ði:/ /ɪz/ /ðæt/ /ɪt/
There is only a way to handle a woman.
The trouble is that nobody knows what it is.

/ˈəʊnlɪ/ /ˈweɪ/ /ˈhændļ/ /ˈwʊmən/

/ˈtrʌbļ/ /ˈnəʊbədɪ/ /ˈnəʊz/ /ˈwɒt/ /ˈɪz/

/ðə/ /(ɪ)z/ /ə/ /tə/ /ə/

/ðə/ /(ɪ)z/ /ðət/ /ɪt/
There is only a way to handle a woman.
The trouble is that nobody knows what it is.

/ðə ɪz ˈəʊnlɪ ə ˈweɪ tə ˈhændļ ə ˈwʊmən

ðə ˈtrʌbļ ɪz ðət ˈnəʊbədɪ ˈnəʊz ˈwɒt ɪt
ˈɪz/
There is only a way to handle a woman.
The trouble is that nobody knows what it is.

/ðə ɪz ˈəʊnlɪ ə ˈweɪ tə ˈhændļ ə ˈwʊmən

ðə ˈtrʌbļ ɪz ðət ˈnəʊbədɪ ˈnəʊz ˈwɒt ɪt
ˈɪz/
There is only a way to handle a woman.
The trouble is that nobody knows what it is.

/ðə ɪz ˈəʊnlɪ ə ˈweɪ tə ˈhændļ ə ˈwʊmən

ðə ˈtrʌbļz ðət ˈnəʊbədɪ ˈnəʊz ˈwɒt ɪt
ˈɪz/
There is only a way to handle a woman.
The trouble is that nobody knows what it is.

/ðə ɪz ˈəʊnlɪ ə ˈweɪ tə ˈhændļ ə ˈwʊmən

ðə ˈtrʌbļz ðət ˈnəʊbədɪ ˈnəʊz ˈwɒt ɪt
ˈɪz/
There is only a way to handle a woman.
The trouble is that nobody knows what it is.

/ðərɪz ˈəʊnlɪ ə ˈweɪ tə ˈhændļ ə ˈwʊmən

ðə ˈtrʌbļz ðət ˈnəʊbədɪ ˈnəʊz ˈwɒt ɪt
ˈɪz/
There is only a way to handle a woman.
The trouble is that nobody knows what it is.

/ðərɪz ˈəʊnlɪ ə ˈweɪ tə ˈhændļ ə ˈwʊmən

‖ ðə ˈtrʌbļz ðət ˈnəʊbədɪ ˈnəʊz ˈwɒt ɪt
ˈɪz/