2018-03-20 Pronunciation: changing meaning with pauses

Greg Malivuk
[email protected]
http://www.pastebin.com/u/gmalivuk - notes from all classes
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Handout p. 75 - What is the correct punctuation of the sentences?
1 “The teacher,” said the student, “is brilliant.”
2 The teacher said, “The student is brilliant.”
 (“The teacher said the student is brilliant.” - As reported speech, there would be no pause.)
3 His dogs are named Java, Joe(,) and Jupiter.
4 His dogs are named Java Joe and Jupiter.
5 After we left, Sam, Sara(,) and I went to lunch.
6 After we left Sam, Sara and I went to lunch.
7 “Marie,” said the landlord, “is irresponsible.”
8 Marie said, “The landlord is irresponsible.”
 (“Marie said the landlord is irresponsible.” - no commas, no pauses)
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We can completely change the meaning of an entire paragraph with different pauses.
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“Dear John i want a man who knows what love is all about you are generous kind thoughtful people who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior you have ruined me for other men i yearn for you i have no feelings whatsoever when we're apart i can be forever happy will you let me be yours Gloria”
How does Gloria feel about John?
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Read the two versions at http://www.nationalpunctuationday.com/dearjohn.html
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Can you remember the correct pauses for each version?
“Dear John / i want a man who knows what love is all about / you are generous kind thoughtful / people who are not like you admit to being useless and inferior / you have ruined me for other men / i yearn for you / i have no feelings whatsoever when we're apart / i can be forever happy / will you let me be yours / Gloria”
“Dear John / i want a man who knows what love is / all about you are generous kind thoughtful people who are not like you / admit to being useless and inferior / you have ruined me / for other men i yearn / for you i have no feelings whatsoever / when we're apart i can be forever happy / will you let me be / yours / Gloria”
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p. 76 exercise 5A - Practice reading these sentences about what famous people did before they were famous.
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p. 77 exercise 6A - Choose the correct division of thought groups. Try to pronounce both versions. What is strange about the wrong one?
1 b
2 a
3 a
4 b
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In formal speech, we speak more slowly with more separate thought groups:
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Just wondering if you were still going to the movie tonight.
I was just wondering / if you were still going / to the movie tonight.
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formal: I want to thank everyone / who made this award possible. (“want to” is separate)
informal: I wanna thank everyone who made this award possible. (“wanna” is reduced)
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The most stressed word in each thought group is the focus word.
It’s usually the last content word in the thought group.
If it’s a different word, that shows some contrast and adds emphasis to the focus word.