Speech Rhythm: Stress and Speech Rhythm: Stress and UnstressUnstress

P.76 Three levels of stress:P.76 Three levels of stress:

strong stress = focus wordsstrong stress = focus wordsnormal stress = content wordsnormal stress = content wordsunstress = structure wordsunstress = structure words

Focus words and content words are Focus words and content words are important!important!

Focus and Content WordsFocus and Content Words

I FOUND a DOLlar in my I FOUND a DOLlar in my POCKPOCKet.et.

I forGOT to SET the aI forGOT to SET the aLARMLARM.. What parts of speech are the following What parts of speech are the following

content words?content words? found dollar pocket forget set alarmfound dollar pocket forget set alarm

Content words are often ________,_________, Content words are often ________,_________, or adjectives.or adjectives.

Structure WordsStructure Words

I am PLANning to TAKE a I am PLANning to TAKE a TRIPTRIP..

She LIKES SALT and PEPper on her She LIKES SALT and PEPper on her EGGSEGGS..

What are the unstressed structure What are the unstressed structure words above?words above?

Structure WordsStructure Words

I she her his you am are have to I she her his you am are have to the and fromthe and from

Structure words are often _______, Structure words are often _______, ___________, helping verbs, and other ___________, helping verbs, and other small grammatical units.small grammatical units.

Predicting StressPredicting Stress

P.80P.80Fill in the chart with a partner.Fill in the chart with a partner.

Group Practice 3 p. 81Group Practice 3 p. 81Group Practice 4 p. 82 Walking the Group Practice 4 p. 82 Walking the

rhythmrhythm

Focus WordsFocus Words

1. Focus words are usually the last 1. Focus words are usually the last content word in each thought group content word in each thought group or short sentence. I went to the or short sentence. I went to the MOVies.MOVies.

2. Focus words are important parts of 2. Focus words are important parts of speech.speech.

Add focus words p. 83Add focus words p. 83

Focus WordsFocus Words

3. If there are several content words in 3. If there are several content words in a row, the last one gets the focus.a row, the last one gets the focus.

4. Adverbs at the end of the sentence 4. Adverbs at the end of the sentence that answer the questions where and that answer the questions where and when are often unstressed and fall in when are often unstressed and fall in pitch.pitch.

Ex. I’m planning to Ex. I’m planning to leaveleave now. now.

Focus WordsFocus Words

5. Structure words at the end sentences are 5. Structure words at the end sentences are unstressed and fall in pitch.unstressed and fall in pitch.

Ex. I’ll Ex. I’ll waitwait for you. for you.

6. Speakers usually divide longer sentences 6. Speakers usually divide longer sentences with more than five or six words into more with more than five or six words into more than one thought group with a focus word than one thought group with a focus word in each.in each.

Ex. Some credit card Ex. Some credit card COMCOMpanies/ offer low panies/ offer low InInterest/ but they charge an annual terest/ but they charge an annual FEEFEE././

Focus Word PracticeFocus Word Practice

p. 85-86 “Fix the Roof”/Partner p. 85-86 “Fix the Roof”/Partner PracticePractice

P. 87 What’s Happening and The P. 87 What’s Happening and The Weather ReportWeather Report

PracticePractice

1. Use focus words to highlight new 1. Use focus words to highlight new information. information.

Ex. I need some Ex. I need some MOMOney. How ney. How MUCHMUCH money?money?

2. Use focus words to respond to a 2. Use focus words to respond to a question.question.

Ex. Tom lost his Ex. Tom lost his KEYSKEYS. . WHOWHO lost his lost his keys?keys?

Focus WordsFocus Words

3.Use focus to disagree3.Use focus to disagree

Ex. Ex. TomTom is going to win best actor or is going to win best actor or actress. I think actress. I think VickiVicki is going to win. is going to win.

4. Use focus to emphasize agreement4. Use focus to emphasize agreementThat was a great That was a great moviemovie! That ! That waswas a a

great movie.great movie.

Focus WordsFocus Words

5. Use focus to return a question5. Use focus to return a questionEx. How is your Ex. How is your FAMilyFAMily? Fine, How ? Fine, How

is is YOURYOUR family? family?

6. Use focus to show contrast.6. Use focus to show contrast.Ex. I’d rather Ex. I’d rather COOKCOOK dinner than dinner than BUYBUY

it.it.Practice p. 91-92Practice p. 91-92

Focus WordsFocus Words

Guideline 7Guideline 7Use focus to show compound noun Use focus to show compound noun

contrast.contrast.Here is the CAR phone charger that Here is the CAR phone charger that

you lost.you lost. I lost the car PHONE, not the car I lost the car PHONE, not the car

phone CHARGER.phone CHARGER.

Your SceneYour Scene

Using the guidelines you just learned Using the guidelines you just learned about focus words, decide with your about focus words, decide with your partner where the focus words are in partner where the focus words are in the dialogue for your scene.the dialogue for your scene.

Why did you choose each one? Does Why did you choose each one? Does it follow any of the guidelines?it follow any of the guidelines?

Focus PracticeFocus Practice

Partner Practice: Short Conversations Partner Practice: Short Conversations p. 91-92p. 91-92

Partner Practice: Contrast basic Partner Practice: Contrast basic pattern with changes in focus p. 93pattern with changes in focus p. 93

Partner Practice p. 94Partner Practice p. 94Choice Questions p.95Choice Questions p.95

Scene WorkScene Work

Look at the second half of your Look at the second half of your scene. Circle the focus words in each scene. Circle the focus words in each sentence or thought group. sentence or thought group.

Why did you choose that word?Why did you choose that word? Is it the basic focus pattern or a Is it the basic focus pattern or a

guideline for shifting focus? Which guideline for shifting focus? Which one?one?