1. Better English Pronunciation for Communication A Practical Course for Students of English Wang Guizhen Faculty of English Language & Culture Guangdong University of Foreign Studies

2. Reading aloud – Identify words that are stressed first
Reading aloud – Identify words that are stressed first. Pay special attention to the sentence stress.
Giving a Man a Fish
There is an old saying: “Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today. Teach a man to fish, and you have fed him for a lifetime.” This saying, however, may no longer be true today. The reason is overfishing.
The problem of overfishing is spreading. Since anyone can fish, many people do. Around the world, the number of fishermen and fish farmers is growing. The total has more than doubled in the past 25 years.
When too many people fish, too many fish are caught. The days of teaching people to fish may be over. New solutions to this problem must be found, before there are no more fish to eat.

3. Reading aloud – Identify words that are stressed first
Reading aloud – Identify words that are stressed first. Pay special attention to the sentence stress.
There is an old saying.
Give a man a fish; you have fed him for today.
Teach a man to fish, and you have fed him for a lifetime.
This saying may no longer be true today.
The reason is overfishing.
The problem of overfishing is spreading.
Since anyone can fish, many people do.
Around the world, the number of fishermen is growing.
The number of fish farmers is growing.
The total has more than doubled in the past 25 years.
Too many people fish.
Too many fish are caught.
The days of teaching people to fish may be over.
New solutions to this problem must be found.
There are no more fish to eat.

4. Reading aloud – Identify words that are stressed
Reading aloud – Identify words that are stressed. Pay special attention to the sentence stress.
Work
Work generally refers to regular paid employment. While we still speak of "working" in the garden, an active woman, running a home and bringing up children, is distinguished from a woman who "works", that is, takes paid employment. But to add to the confusion, the following conversation is also quite common:
“Do you work?”
“No, my husband works. I'm just a housewife. I do the housework.”
Domestic work is often very time-consuming and makes a vital contribution to the working of the economy, but is rarely acknowledged as such.

5. Reading aloud – Identify words that are stressed
Reading aloud – Identify words that are stressed. Pay special attention to the sentence stress.
Work generally refers to regular paid employment.
We still speak of "working" in the garden.
She is running a home and bringing up children.
She is distinguished from a woman who "works".
She takes paid employment.
The following conversation is also quite common.
Do you work?
No, my husband works.
I'm just a housewife.
I do the housework.
Domestic work is often very time-consuming.
It makes a vital contribution to the working of the economy.

6. Pronunciation in communication: Talking about likes and dislikes
Student A = a Chinese student;
Student B = a teacher from Britain
Situation:
Take turns to be Student A, who is going to invite his/her teacher to their party. Find out what kind of food the teacher likes by using yes/no questions only.
Possible steps:
Student A starts the conversation.
Student A invites the teacher to the party.
Student A asks him/her if he/she would like to have …. …

7. Strong Forms & Weak Forms
Unit 10
Strong Forms & Weak Forms
in English

8. Do the following exercises online, paying special attention to the strong forms and weak forms.
Strong or weak (2) Function words What's missing Schwa Say after me Say after me (2) Stress patterns Weak forms Weak forms (2)

11. Fig. 10: “was at war” in the sentence “England was at war with America (native vs non-native).

12. Words SF Weak form Sample sentence
1. a /eI/ /ə/ We've got a dog.
2. an /æn/ /ən/ Take an apple.
3. her /hə:/ /hə/, /ə:/, /ə/ What's her name?
4. his /hIz/ /Iz/ John had his haircut.
5. our /aʊə/ /ɑ:/ We can do it on our own.
6. some /sʌm/ /səm/, /sm/ Get me some water.
7. the /ði:/ /ðI/, /ðə/ They saw the young and the old.
8. your /jɔ:/ /jə/ Take your time.
9. he /hi:/ /hI/, /I/ What did he do?
10. me /mi:/ /mI/ Let me have a look.

13. 11. she /ʃi:/ /ʃI/ Did she come?
12. them /ðem/ /ðəm/, /ðm/ Let them go.
13. us /ʌs/ /əs/ He told us a story.
14. we /wi:/ /w I / Here we are.
15. you /ju:/ /jʊ/ Did you see my pen?
16. him /hIm/ /Im/ Give him a pen.
17. am /æm/ /əm/, /m/ I'm proud of it.
18. are /ɑ:/ /ə/ What are you doing?
19. be /bi:/ /bI/ Don't be late.
20. can /kæn/ /kən/, /kn/ What can I do?

14. 21. do /du:/ /də/, /d/ What do you do on Sundays?
22. does /dʌz/ /dəz/ When does the train leave?
23. had /hæd/ /həd/, /əd/, /d/ How many had he had?
24. has /hæz/ /həz/, /əz/, /z/, /s/ What has happened?
25. have /hæv/ /həv/, /əv/, /v/ The kids have gone.
26. is /Iz/ /z/, /s/ He is coming.
27. must /mʌst/ /məst/,/məs/ We must go now.
28. shall /ʃæl/ /ʃəl/, /əl/ What shall we do?
29. was /wɒz/ /wəz/, /wz/ He was out.
30. were /wə:/ /wə/ We were all late.

15. 31. will /wIl/ /wəl/, /əl/ That will do.
32 at /æt/ /ət/ Look at him.
33. for /fɔ:/ /fə/ Is it for me?
34. from /frɒm//frəm/, /frm/ They come from the states.
35. of /ɒv/ /əv/, /v/, /f/ It's very kind of you.
36. to /tu:/ /tə/ You don't have to worry.
37. and /ænd/ /ənd/, /ən/, /nd/, /n/ We had fish and chips.
38. as /æz/ /əz/ Just as you like.
39. but /bʌt/ /bət/ It's good but expensive.
40. so /səʊ//sə/ It's not so cold here.
41. than /ðæn/ /ðən/ It's bigger than this.
42. that /ðæt/ /ðət/ He said that he was coming.

16. Information words vs. function words
nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs
giving information about who, what, when, where, why, how
expressing the main idea or content of the phrase or sentence
Function words:
articles, pronouns, possessives, prepositions, auxiliary verbs, and conjunctions
connecting the information words to form grammatical sentences.

17. Information words & function words

18. Pronunciation of the function words

19. What is a “weak form”?
The unstressed form is thus an alternate pronunciation of a word which is so reduced in its articulation that it consists of a different set of phonemes. /ə/ is the most frequently used vowel in the unstressed form and next comes /I/.

20. The strong forms of the function words

21. Main features of the weak forms

22. Pronunciation meaning
1. Get me some bread and butter. ________ _____________________
Get me some bread and butter. ________ _____________________
2. She gave it to us. ________ _____________________
She gave it to us. ________ _____________________
3. Lucy and Lilly are sisters. ________ _____________________
Lucy and Lilly are sisters. ________ _____________________
4. Take an apple. ________ _____________________
Take an apple. ________ _____________________
5. I've got a cat. ________ _____________________
I've got a cat. ________ _____________________
6. The performance was good. ________ _____________________
The performance was good. ________ _____________________
7. John can do it. ________ _____________________
John can do it. ________ _____________________
8. I had a knife. ________ _____________________
I had a knife. ________ _____________________
9. I'm afraid we must go. ________ _____________________
I'm afraid we must go. ________ _____________________
10. Come with me, Jill. ________ _____________________
Come with me, Jill. ________ _____________________

23. The pronunciation of the unstressed function words
It is not an easy decision to make.
No one can pass the test.
What is her name?
They have been here the whole afternoon.
Can I have some more?
He was good, wasn't he?
We will wait till the end of the party.
She opened her eyes and saw the girl at the door.
She told me that she had lost her voice.
That's a pity but we can go another time.
They told us to leave.
First of all, let's look at the map.
It is from overseas.
Jack and Jill are at the concert.
These are for a different purpose.
The others were at the front.
Everything was for the best.
Let's have fish for a change.
I am going away for the day.
I would rather have a drink than a smoke.

24. The pronunciation of the function word "and"
cream and sugar
knives and forks
big and small
rock and roll
fish and chips
pens and pencils
sandwich and coffee
peanut butter and jelly
hamburger and fires
rich and famous
nickels and dimes
men and women
tables and chairs
boys and girls
radio and television
sons and daughters
doctors and patients
father and mother
teachers and students
war and peace

25. Listen to the following talk and write the unstressed words in the space.
Now, ______________ end ___________ morning ____________ all ______ able _______ collect ______ timetable _____________ college office. _________ see ________ first lecture _____________ nine o'clock ___________ morning _________ last ___________ four o'clock __________ afternoon. Most __________, ________ fact all ___________, __________ find ____________ spare time without lectures or laboratory sessions. _________ college library ________ private study rooms _________ open all day __________ nine ___________ morning till eight ________ evening _______ private study. _______ students' union common room ________ also open ____________ same times. And … er … ______ hand over ______ Mrs White, who ________ tell ________ about students' welfare, sports clubs _________ examinations.

26. at the end of the morning _________________
Listen to the following talk and identify the unstressed words.
at the end of the morning _________________
you will all be able to … _________________
from the college office _________________
at nine o'clock in the morning _________________
at four o'clock in the afternoon _________________
most of you _________________
from nine in the morning _________________
till eight in the evening _________________
open at the same times ________________
sports clubs and examinations. _________________

27. A Big Head and a Big Mouth
Reading aloud – Identify words that are stressed first. Pay special attention to the weak forms.
A Big Head and a Big Mouth
An idiom is a group of words with a special meaning. The words in the idiom do not have their usual, ordinary meanings. English is full of idioms. You know some already, and you will certainly learn more.
Many idioms mention parts of the body: the head, the hands, the heart, and so on. You might hear a girl say, “My brother’s getting a big head.” The boy’s head isn’t growing! A big head is an idiom: this boy thinks he is very important and special. His sister doesn’t think he is. She says that he’s getting too confident.
A friend might tell you, “Be careful. That girl has a big mouth.” The literal meaning is That girl’s mouth is large. However, have a big mouth is also an idiom. Your friend means the girl talks too much or she tells other people’s secrets. Your friend is giving you some advice: You shouldn’t tell that girl any private information. You can’t trust her to keep quiet.

28. An idiom is a group of words with a special meaning.
Reading aloud – Identify words that are stressed first. Pay special attention to the weak forms.
An idiom is a group of words with a special meaning.
The words in the idiom do not have their usual, ordinary meanings.
English is full of idioms.
Many idioms mention parts of the body.
My brother’s getting a big head.
The boy’s head isn’t growing!
A big head is an idiom.
This boy thinks he is very important and special.
She says that he’s getting too confident.
That girl has a big mouth.
The literal meaning is that girl’s mouth is large.
However, have a big mouth is also an idiom.
Your friend is giving you some advice.
You shouldn’t tell that girl any private information.
You can’t trust her to keep quiet.

29. Listening for information (1)

30. (G = George L = Li Ping)
G: My Chinese course ends in a few months.
L: You’ll have to get a real job. Maybe you should start looking now. What does your advisor suggest?
G: He says I ought to write to joint-venture companies. I should send them my resume and samples of my work.
L: You’d better get going. The competition out there is awful.
G: I know. I’ll contact them right away.

31. Listening for information (2)

32. L: Well, David, Where are you going for your holiday?
(D = David L = Li Ping)
L: Well, David, Where are you going for your holiday?
D: Oh well, I’m not really sure. I thought perhaps you could give me some advice?
L: I’d be glad to.
D: Well, I like to see a few different cities and I’d love to take a boat journey.
L: Have you ever thought of travelling through the Yangzi Gorges. That’s the most well-known boat trip I think, and it is spectacular.
D: Really? The Yangzi Goreges? Yes, well, I’ve heard of them of course. But how could I get there?
L: Well, you should go to Chongqing and go downstream by boat to Wuhan. There’s a direct flight to Chongqing from Guangzhou.
D: I’m not so keen on flying, actually. Is there a train?
L: I’m not sure. I’d have to check. But the distance must be pretty big and the journey will take a long time. I’ve got a good guidebook. I think I’ll see what I can find out in that, first. But I can also check it out with the Travel Service.
D: Good idea. Hope you can get it fixed for me.
L: Sure, I will. I’ll see you later.
D: Thanks. See you later.

33. Assignment On-line exercises http://felc.gdufs.edu.cn/pronunciation/
Presentations
Reading aloud the passage on pp
A one-minute mini-talk: (p.119)
Pronunciation in communication: Offering Help/Things

34. Thank you
Thank you.