Unit 31. Average, Novelist, Happening.
Words that Lose a Syllable
Unit 31; Part A
 Important for listening! In some words, vowels tend to be left out in conversation. When this happens, the word loses an unstressed syllable: av Some dictionaries show that the vowel /∂/ can be left out using the symbol ∂: /æv∂rιd3/ /nov∂list/ /hæp∂nιη/ It is not necessary to leave these vowels out in your own speech inorder to be understood, but leaving them out can make your speech soundmore fluent and natural, and being aware of these changes can help youunderstand rapid speech. |
Unit 31; Part B
| Important for listening! Most vowels left out in this way come befor /r/, /l/ or /n/.
 Note: Some other words with these endings rarely lose a syllable (e.g. theory, cookery, formally, and some words with these endings almost always lose a syllable (e.g. historic |
Unit 31; Part C
| Important for listening! In a few words left-out vowels come before sounds other than /r/, /l/ and /n/. For example: gov |
Unit 31; Part D
| Important for listening! In a few two-syllable words with stress on the second syllable, thefirst vowel is often left out in rapid speech so that the word is saidwith only one syllable: I don't b It's the p |
Unit 31; Part E
| Important for listening! A few words lose their first syllable completely in rapid speech:
When these words are written to represnt speech (for example in novels) this pronunciation is sometimes indicated: 'bout, 'cause, 'cept |
Exercises
 Complete these sentences using the pairs of words below. (Notice that you may need to change the order of the words.)Key.1 int 2 consid 3 mis 4 fright 5 pris 6 caref 7 thankf 8 accident
 Example: Carlo's is my favourite Italian restaurant .1 When she lived in Shanghai she developed an __________ in __________ Chinese medicine. 2 The two cars seem identical, but there is a __________ __________ in how much they cost. 3 I had a __________ time in __________ school. 4 When he opened the door he made a __________ __________. 5 The __________ escaped and where he's gone is a complete __________. 6 I checked __________ in the __________, but couldn't find his number. 7 The torch didn't work, but __________ I had a spare __________ in the kitchen. 8 When I __________ pressed the button there was a __________ bang. | ||||
Now listen and check your answers. Then read aloud the sentences makingsure you pronounce the words you have written with the appropriatevowels left out. | ||||
| Listen to the words in the box said slowly and carefully and write the number of syllables you hear: Key.  memory 3 formally 3 loyally suppose anniversary police machinery technically delivery medicine geometrically perhaps historically nursery |
| Listen to the words from exercise 2 used in sentences. Again, writethe number of syllables you hear. Is this the same number as inexercise 2 (write S) or a different number (write D)? Key.  Examples: I must be losing my memory. 2 D He was dressed formally. 3 S 1 He supported her loyally. 2 I suppose not. 3 It's our wedding anniversary. 4 The police arrived. 5 The machinery broke down. 6 It's technically very advanced. 7 There's a special delivery for you. 8 I'm taking cough medicine. 9 It was geometrically patterned. 10 Perhaps you're right. 11 The play is historically accurate. 12 She goes to a nursery. Now check your answers in the Key. Then say the sentences aloud, leaving out syllables where appropriate. |
| Here are some extracts from books. Read aloud the quoted speech as it is written. Key.Left-hand extract from Popcorn by Ben Elton. Middle extract from The Scholar. A West-side story by Courttia Newland. Right-hand extract from The Echo by Minette Waiters.
Follow up: If someone said 'scuseme' to you, what might they want you to do? | ||||
 | Unit 30 Unit 31 Unit 32 |  |
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