Изучаем English Unit 32. We Stuck a Picture of an Elephant.
Breaking speech into units
Unit 32; Part A
 As we speak, we group words into units depending on meaning andemphasis. Listen and notice how this speaker divides up what he issaying:// I can rememher as children// we were rather naughty// once// we stuck a picture// of an elephant// on the back of Dad's coat// before he went out// of course he couldn't see it// so he didn't know why everyone was laughing at him// until he got to work// and took it off// We call these speech units and mark them with //. |
Unit 32; Part B
| Although there are no rules about how we divide speech into units,some words are more likely to go together than others in order to helpmake sense of the message. For example: // we stuck a picture// of an elephant// is more likely than: // we stuck a// picture of an elephant// or: // we stuck a picture of// an elephant// // until he got to work// and took it off// is more likely than: // until he got to// work and took it off// or: // until he got to work and took// it off// |
Unit 32; Part C
| Sometimes the division of speech into units can make a diference in meaning: (i) // we were rather naughty// once// we stuck a picture// of an elephant// ... (ii) // we were rather naughty once// we stuck a picture// of an elephant// ... In (i), 'once' goes with 'we stucka picture of an elephant' and shows that the speaker is giving anexample of the many times they were naughty. In (ii), 'once' goes with 'we were naughty' and suggests that we were naughty only one time. (iii) // before he went out// of course he couldn't see it// (iv) // before he went out of course// he couldn't see it// In (iii), 'of course' goes with 'he couldn't see it' and means that it is obvious that he couldn't see it. In (iv), 'of course' goes with 'before he went out' and means that it is obvious that we stuck it on his coat before he went out. |
Unit 32; Part D
| When we want to emphasise words in order to draw particular attention to them, we can put them into very short speech units: // we were rather naughty// or for emphasis: // we were rather// naughty// // on the back of Dad's coat// or for emphasis: // on the back// of Dad's// coat// |
Unit 32; Part E
| Within speech units, words are usually linked smoothly together, without pauses between them (see also Unit 26): // I can remember as children// /r/ // of course he couldn 't see it// /j/ // until he got_to work// |
Exercises
 Listen to the recording as many times as you need, and mark the boundaries between speech units with // in these extracts. The first one has been done for you.Key.1 that's the main thing// and then// ifyou've got any questions afterwards// hopefully// we'll still havetime// to go through a few of them// is that okay 2 she'd left// when she had a baby// and then// decided not to go back// although the job had been kept open for her 3 Tom dear// where's the advert// for this calculator// because I don'tknow the address// and I don't know// who I've got to make the chequepayable to
|
| Each of these extracts consists of three speech units. Put // in twoof the four spaces to show where you expect the speech unit boundariesto be. Key.(United States) 1 when I woke up // I didn't even realise // what time it was 2 of course // it's written in a language // that hardly anyone can understand 3 I was working late // because they want it done // as quickly as possible 4 because he was ill // I didn't expect him // to come to work 5 if I get some time // I'll be over on the weekend // to see you both 6 luckily // we haven't had any rain // since the day we arrived 7 it should never have been built // in my opinion // this new office building  | |
Nowlisten and check your answers. Then read the extracts aloud. Put shortbreaks between speech units and link the words within speech unitssmoothly together without pauses. | |
| Give special emphasis to the words in bold by putting each one in ashort speech unit. Read the extracts aloud and then compare yourpronunciation with the recording. 1 I've never seen such an incredibly exciting football match. 2 She has always helped me and has never refused any request I've made. 3 After the day of climbing I was completely exhausted. 4 She looked much older - grey and lined - and she used a walking stick. | |
Follow up: Recorda short extract (about 15 seconds) from a radio or programme. Write outwhat was said and then try to mark speech unit boundaries in the text.Listen to the recording as many times as necessary. | |
 | Unit 31 Unit 32 Unit 33 |  |