LESSON 20
Intonation and linking – part 2
1. Narrow focus for contrast For the utterances given below, it would be quite natural to place contrastive stress on one word in each tone group. This word would carry the tonic accent and the tone group would have narrow focus rather than broad focus ( Lesson 5, Intonation Basics). When a word bears contrastive stress, the speaker is emphasising the fact that this word is being used rather than another word that would have been possible in this position. For example, the speaker wants to emphasise that ‘She is coming’ (and not he or they), or that ‘You’re the Þrst one’ (and not the second or last one). Quite frequently, the Þrst element of a compound word bears a contrastive tonic accent: ‘I’m sure he’s blue-eyed’. This can occur (as in this case) even when Element A bears only secondary stress in the static stress pattern (the one that is used when the word is said in isolation and that is given in a dictionary). Primary stress simply shifts to Element A. Similarly, words with a separable preÞx can bear a contrastive stress on the preÞx, even if the preÞx takes secondary stress in the static stress pattern: ‘Give him a generous tip! He’s deÞnitely underpaid!’ (The static stress pattern is ۈunderۉpaid.)
Decide where you think a contrastive tonic accent could quite naturally be placed in each tone group. The static stress pattern of certain words has been indicated in square brackets. a. I’m quite sure that guitarist is left-handed. / It’s frequent among musicians. [ۈleft-ۉhanded] b. Did you use olive oil for your salad dressing? [ۈolive ۉoil] c. If you want to help her, / then you drive her into town! / Don’t count on me! d. Shall we have red wine with dinner? e. I have no idea which black suitcase is mine./ Next time, / I’ll buy a pink suitcase. f. If we go to Morocco for our holidays, / the ßight will be cheaper. g. They aren’t undernourished, but rather malnourished. [ۈunderۉnourished; ۈmalۉnourished].
h. That’s a bedside table! It’s not made to be eaten on. [ۈbedside ۉtable] i. Do you want a hard-boiled egg? [ۈhard-ۉboiled]
j. I’m convinced that a regular airline would give you better service. rac
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1
Listen and check that you have chosen the correct word to bear the tonic accent.
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1 min 33 s.
If you feel it is necessary, you can consult the written answer key (page 160) to check your tonic accent placement.
Now repeat the same sentences.