2018-03-14 Pronunciation: reduced structure words

Greg Malivuk
[email protected]
http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk - notes from all classes
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-40 C = -40 F
-30 C = -22 F
-20 C = -4 F
-10 C = 14 F
0 C = 32 F
10 C = 50 F
20 C = 68 F
30 C = 86 F
40 C = 104 F
A change of 5C is a change of 9F.
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Content words usually have strong stress and function words are usually unstressed.
Handout p. 62 exercise 5A - Draw a circle over the stressed syllable in each content word. Then practice pronouncing the sentences with your partner.
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This is the unmarked pronunciation for these sentences. It’s the usual pronunciation if we’re not trying to give any other information like agreement or disagreement.
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Structure words are usually unstressed and, if they are only one syllable, reduced to a shorter version of the word. It also usually mixes a little with the next (and sometimes previous) word.
I want to go. I’m going to go. I’ve got to go. I have to go.
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p. 66 shows some common reductions of structure words.
“date of birth” can sound like “data birth”
Many structure words that begin with ‘h’ might be pronounced without /h/.
	(Also, “them” might be pronounced the same as “him”.)
“have” might lose both the /h/ and the /v/ - should have gone -> shoulda gone
	This is usually fine, because only “have” can go in “should ____ been”.
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The most important one for your pronunciation is “can”.
Affirmative auxiliary verbs are usually unstressed in English, and negative words are stressed.
“can” is usually unstressed, and “can’t” is stressed
I can talk. - I wouldn’t stress “can”, so it sounds like /kn/ here.
I can’t talk. - I would stress “can’t”.
If you stress “can”, most English speakers will hear “can’t”.
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Longer prepositions (like “about” and “between”) and pronouns (like “someone” and “himself”) do not get reduced.
I live between Cambridge and Somerville.
I read a book about Washington.
	- prepositions still don’t have stress
There’s someone at the door.
He’s talking to himself.
	- two-syllable pronouns often have stress like content words, but the stress is on the noun part (“some” or “self”)
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p. 67 exercise 10A - write the words you hear for the blanks.
2 her some
3 I’ll, and
4 the, to
5 his, of
6 to, to
7 Is she
8 Will the
9 Did you
10 is an, at