Rhythm of English Speech Unit 12 Rhythm l

Rhythm l l Rhythm in English speech is based on stress ．A rhythm unit(节奏单位)is

1) The regular recurrence of stressed syllables results in: (a) the pronunciation of each

Sense Groups When we talk, we don’t talk in single words but in groups

Pause We may make a short pause after each sense group, but not during

1) In cutting speech up into small groups， speed at which you are speaking

2) The following sentences get progressively longer and it would be convenient to cut

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Rhythm of English Speech Unit 12

Rhythm l l Rhythm in English speech is based on stress ．A rhythm unit(节奏单位)is formed by a stressed syllable, together with unstressed syllables which may come before or after it. It is formed by the recurrence of stressed syllables at more or less regular intervals of time and by the alternation of stressed and unstressed syllables.

1) The regular recurrence of stressed syllables results in: (a) the pronunciation of each rhythmic group in a sensegroup in the same period of time, irrespective of the number of unstressed syllables in it; (b) the influence of this feature of English speech rhythm upon the tempo of speech (语速) and the length of sounds, especially vowels. 2) The alternation of stressed and unstressed syllables, which results in the influence of rhythm upon wordstress and sentence-stress．

Sense Groups and Pause 意群与停顿

Sense Groups When we talk, we don’t talk in single words but in groups of words spoken continuously. • These groups of words which are closely connected in meaning and in grammar are called sense groups． • A sense group is a tone-group (语调群 ) in intonation． •

Pause We may make a short pause after each sense group, but not during the group． • Pauses help to make reading or speaking easier and to convey one’s ideas more clearly． •

1) In cutting speech up into small groups， speed at which you are speaking is one of the factors．The following sentence may be read in either way． a) 'All of the 'students in 'this class 'study 'English． b) 'All of the 'students in 'this class ︱ 'study 'English．

2) The following sentences get progressively longer and it would be convenient to cut up the longer ones into small groups according to their grammatical structure． Note: the single bar (/) is used to mark pause． (1)'All of them 'study 'English． (2) 'All of the 'students in , this department / study 'English and 'other subjects. (3) 'All of the 'students in , this department / study 'English and , other subjects / for a 'course of 'four 'years.