Positional length of [ı ∂].
near nearly [i:- ı ∂] bee - bear
dear dearly tea - tear
fear fearful pea - pier
cheer clearly bead - beard
queer theatre Dee - dear
sheer museum fee - fear
mere weary knee - near
II. Read the sentences. Follow the tonetic marks.
1. Near and dear. Ближайшие родственники.
2. It’s a curious experience. Это курьёзный (странный) случай.
3. The mere idea appears fearful. Одна лишь мысль об этом ужасает
меня.
4. Steer clear of Pearce. Держись подальше от Пирса.
5. Can you hear clearly from here? Вам хорошо слышно отсюда?
6. Vere thinks small beer of anyone here. Вер считает здесь всех мелкой
рыбешкой.
7. The theatre is somewhere near here. Театр где-то неподалеку oтсюда.
8. Experience keeps a dear school. Опыт достается дорогой ценой.
III. Observe the correct pronunciation of the rhythmic groups and the diphthong
[ı ∂].
The 'end of the 'pier is `near. | The 'end of the 'pier is `near, I fear. | The 'end of the 'pier is `near, I fear, | and the 'mist hasn’t `cleared.
IV. Match the following English idioms, proverbs and sayings with their Russian
equivalents. Make up situations to illustrate their usage.
1. to smile through tears a. с загнутым уголком (о странице)
2. to save appearances b. соблюдать приличия
3. for smb’s private ears c. улыбаться сквозь слезы
4. dog-eared d. дать пощечину
5. to box smb’s ears e. по секрету, на ушко
6. to grin from ear to ear f. быть падким до сплетен
7. to have itching ears g. пропускать мимо ушей
8. to turn a deaf ear h. улыбаться во весь рот
Section 3
I. Test. Tick the words you recognize in the sentences you hear:
1. a) bee; b) beer
2. a) tea; b) tear
3. a) bead; b) beard
4. a) pea; b) pier
5. a) E’s; b) ears
6. a) Dee; b) dear
II. Listen to the dialogue and learn it by heart.
A Bearded Mountaineer
(Mr and Mrs Lear are on holiday in Austria)
Mr Lear: Let’s have a beer here, dear.
Mrs Lear: What a good idea! They have very good beer here. We came here last
year.
Mr Lear: The atmosphere here is very clear.
Mrs Lear: And it’s windier than last year.
Mr Lear: (speaking to the waiter) Two beers, please.
Mrs Lear: Look, dear! Look at that mountaineer drinking beer.
Mr Lear: His beard is in his beer.
Mrs Lear: His beard has nearly disappeared into his beer!
Mr Lear: Sh, dear! He might hear.
Waiter: (bringing the beer) Here you are, sir. Two beers.
Mr Lear: Cheers, dear!
Mrs Lear: Cheers! Here’s to the bearded mountaineer!
Review questions and tasks.
1. Enumerate the principal nuclear tones in English.
2. What oppositions in using tones can be revealed?
3. Name the main attitudes conveyed by the nuclei.
4. Say the following sentences with different nuclei. How is the meaning changing?
1) It’s not the one you want.
2) How can you be so obstinate?
3) Do it yourself then.
4) Did he say anything about his plans?
5) What wonderful music!
5. Give your own examples of the utterances in which the nuclei are realized
differently.
Unit 18
Section 1
Sequence of Tones
In sentences containing more than one intonation group almost any combination of terminal tones is possible which calls for more detailed description.
Adverbial phrases at the beginning of a simple sentence may be pronounced with the Low Rise or Mid Level:
e .g. >Yesterday | I 'stayed at 'home all day.
In sentence final position they do not form any intonation groups:
e.g. I 'stayed at 'home all day yesterday.
* An adverbial phrase in the sentence final position is pronounced as a separate
intonation group if it adds any comments or clarifications.
e.g. 'Send it a way | at once.
Enumeration in simple sentences is represented by a number of homogeneous parts. The terminal tones of non-final intonation groups may be
a) low – rising; b) mid – level; c) low – falling:
e.g. I like playing tennis, badminton and basketball.
She has a lot of dresses, shoes and hats.
Direct address can stand in sentence initial, medial or final positions. In sentence initial position this intonation group is pronounced with the Low Fall in formal speech and with the Fall-Rise in a friendly conversation.
e.g. Gentlemen, 'pay at'tention to `this ex hibit.
ˇMummy, 'could I 'buy an ice- cream?
In sentence medial and final positions direct address sounds as an unstressed or partially stressed tail of the preceding intonation group:
e.g. Good evening, Mr. Wood.
Parentheses connect the sentence with another one or summarize what is said in the sentence. At the beginning of a sentence they are often arranged by the low-rising or mid-level tone into a separate intonation group:
e.g. >Well, | → where have you been?
To → crown it all | I had an accident.
But the parentheses can also be pronounced with the Low Fall or Fall-Rise to attach more importance to them:
e.g. As I say, | it `wasn’t done on purpose.
For my `own part, | I should love it.
Parentheses of no semantic importance may remain unstressed:
e.g. Well I →don’t know.
The author’s words preceding direct speech should be treated as a separate intonation group and may be pronounced with any terminal tone. If the author’s words follow direct speech they continue as an unstressed or partially-stressed tail of the preceding intonation group:
e.g. “What `is it for?” he asked.
“Is `this for me? – he asked.
Section 2
[εə]
( the nucleus is front, open (narrow variant), unrounded )