2019-08-05 Pronunciation: rhythm in poetry

Greg Malivuk
[email protected]
http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk - notes from all classes
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rhythm: the pattern and speed of “beats”
- In English, the “beats” are stressed words and syllables.
p. 59 exercise 1 - Listen and repeat these words and phrases with the same stress patterns.
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English is a stress-timed language. This means there’s more or less the same amount of time between each stressed syllable.
p. 60 exercise 2 - Repeat the phrases.
open up
open it up
opening it up
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In normal speech, we can speed up or slow down for many different reasons.
- To finish what I’m saying in time.
- To add emphasis by slowing down.
- To help listeners understand.
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nursery rhyme = a short simple poem that children learn and recite
In nursery rhymes (and some other types of poems) the rhythm is very strong and steady.
exercise 3 - Mark the stressed syllables and write how many there are on each line.
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Look at the “Disobedience” poem.
The lines alternate between 4 and 3 beats. (The lines with 3 have a silent beat at the end.)
Mark the syllables that have stress with your partner.
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This poem can be arranged differently on the page:

James James
Morrison Morrison
Weatherby George DuPree
Took great
Care of his Mother
Though he was only three.

James James Morrison Morrison Weatherby George DuPree
Took great care of his mother, though he was only three.
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Homework: practice the rhythm and pronunciation of the poem