Unit 59. Small, Medium, and Large.

Tones in a Series of Similar Items
Unit 59; Part A
In prepared speech, when we give a series of three or more similaritems, each item is typically said in a separate speech unit. Veryoften, all the items have a rising tone (or they all have a fall-risingtone) except the last, which has a falling tone. Using the same tonefor each item, except the last, indicates that they are in some wayequivalent. A falling tone on the last item signals the end of theseries: Many goverments fail to focus on policies which require sustained effort over years or decades - // to imPROVE eduCAtional standards ↑ eRADicate diSEASE ↑ // MODernise the TRANSport system ↑// and reDUCE levels of polLUtion ↓// The only seats left are priced at // TWENty euros ↓↑ THIRty euros ↓↑ // and FIFty euros ↓↑// ![]() I've got // YEllow Orange or PINK ↓// Which one would you like? A: She s been away a lot recently - // PARis ↑ // OSLo ↑ // MaDRID ↑ // - the incomplete series suggests that she has been to other places, too |
Unit 59; Part B
Words within items in a series are usually non-prominent if they are repeated or don't provide new information: The meeting includes// NATional politicians ↑// LOcal politicians ↑// and EuroPEan politicians ↓// |
Unit 59; Part C
In lists that are often repeated or are part of a routine, each itemis ofen said with a level tone (although a rising tone may also beused), except the last, which has a falling tone: There are three sizes available, // SMALL →// MEdium →// and LARGE ↓ When I raise my hand like this I want you // to STOP TALKing →// STAND up STRAIGHT →// CONcentrate on ME →// and get READy to SING ↓ ![]() |
Unit 59; Part D
Less commonly, all items may have a falling tone, particularly if we want to emphasise each item as separate and important: Please write the following dates down in your notebooks. The first examination // will be on MONday the SIXTH ↓// the SECond on WEDnesday the EIGHTH ↓// and the LAST on TUESday the fourTEENTH ↓// |
Exercises
![]() | Unit 58 Unit 59 Unit 60 | ![]() |