THE RHYTHM OF

SPEECH
 All spoken language is
characterized by a particular
rhythm and melody pattern
which makes different
individuals speak in a variety of
time and tune
To develop a rhythm for the language, one must learn to use the devices
of speech which are also the indicators of rhythm namely

1. Stress (including blending, and phrasing of words and sentences)

2. Intonation
In the words obtain and magazine the
last syllables tain and zine are spoken
with increased force or loudness

In the words column and factory

the first syllables col and fac are
spoken with prominence and force.

These characteristic loudness,

prominence, and increased force
are known as STRESS.
Stress involves changes in:
1. pitch
2. force
3. duration
Four degrees of stress in English:
1. strong
2. secondary
3. tertiary
4. weak or zero
Monosyllabic words (one-syllable words)

1. do 6. tame
2. has 7. cent
3. deal 8. get
4. sun 9. care
5. sail 10. whole
Multisyllabic words (multi-syllable words)

have only one strong stress. (spoken louder, longer, and clearer than the rest of the unstressed
syllables which are spoken lightly and quickly.
notice titan voluntary origin vivid
semester original department giraffe
scientific volunteer undertake correspond
contemporary misunderstand socialization
capitalization indiscrimination
Number words

Those ending in ty and ieth

are stressed on the first syllable.
While those ending in teen and
tenth are stressed on the last
syllable.
e.g.:
twenty twentieth
thirty thirtieth
forty fortieth

sixteen sixteenth
seventeen seventeenth
fifteen - fifteenth
a shift in the position of syllable stress, results in a change in the meaning of a particular group of words. In the words conduct and contact the strong stress is on the first syllable indicating that they are nouns. When stressed in the second syllable they become verbs.

Noun-Verb Shift
Noun-Verb Shift
e.g:

1. You can extract vanilla, an aromatic

extract, from a certain tropical orchid.

2. the producers retail their goods

wholesale or retail.
Compound words
Noun-noun or adjective-noun
combinations carry stress positions on
the basis of the meaning they convey.

Windowpane (1st syllable stress)

swimming pool

chocolate cake (2nd syllable stress)

paper roses
Intonation in English
Speech

It is the rise and the fall of the voice and

also t syllableshe combination of tunes
on which we pronuounce the syllables
that make up our speech
Four tunes used in
speaking

e.g.:
1. Im SOrry, Mr. ReMUllo.
2. Thats RIght!
3. Did you study your LESSON?
Four tunes used in
speaking

1. Low
2. Normal
3. High
4. Extra high
The rising-falling
intonation or the 2-3-1

The rising-falling intonation or the 2-3-1

pattern begins on the normal (2) tune,
and ends by raising the voice to high (3)
on the last stressed syllable of the
sentence, then making it fall to low (1)
The rising intonation or
the 2-3-3

In the rising intonation, the voice begins

on the normal (2) tune and ends on a
high (3) tune on the last stressed words
of the sentence. Usually use to yes-no
questions.
e.g.:
1. Did you sleep WELL?
2. Is he in SCHOOL?
The Non-final intonation
or the 2-3-2

Is used in that part of the sentence

which precedes the last stressed word.
It suggest incompleteness of thought
and it signals that the speaker still has
something to say.
e.g.:
1. Are YOUready to LEAVE?
2. They SHOULD be here on Time.
Direct Address (Uses rising
intonation)

It refers to the name or word substitute

for a name, such as dear or darling,
addressed directly to the person to
whom one is speaking.
e.g.:

1. Youre very Kind, my DEAR.

Tag questions

If the tag question is said as a

statement of fact and the speaker is
definite that the listener will agree with
him, the tag question is spoken with the
rising-falling intonation.

e.g.:
1. Its PAINful, ISnt it?
Tag questions

If the tag question is said as a real

question and the speaker is not sure of
the listeners answer, the tag question
is spoken with the rising pattern.

e.g.:
1. Its PAINful, isnt IT?
Intonation Patterns For Special Purposes

These patterns are used to

communicate particular emotions or
ideas, and moods.

1. Incompleteness/Uncertainty of
thoughts (2-3)
e.g.: to BE or NOT to BE
2. Completeness/Assurance (3-1)
e.g.: NO! or I BELIEVE IT!