U NIT 3 - TONICITY

TONICITY: WHERE SHOULD

THE NUCLEUS GO ?

 The nucleus is the last

accented word in the IP.
 The default tonicity rule says
that the nucleus falls on the
stressed syllable of the last
content word in an IP.
 She’s done it.

 Who was she talking to?

 Bring it to her.

 I think you ought to tell me

about it.
W HERE SHOULD THE NUCLEUS
GO IN THE FOLLOWING I PS ?

 I’ll be waiting for you.

 There’s a parcel for her.
 Take your umbrella with you.
 There’s a fly in it!
 We could try to reason with
them.
W HERE SHOULD THE NUCLEUS
GO IN THE FOLLOWING I PS ?

 She brought her baby with her.

 I’ve bought a coffee table for you.
 Here’s some information about
them.
 I forgot to bring my books with me.
 My tie’s got a stain on it.
U NIT 4 – MORE ABOUT TONICITY
 FINAL BUT NOT NUCLEAR

WORDS AND
PHRASES There are certain words that tend not to
THAT
TEND receive the nuclear accent, though they
NOT TO
RECEIVE may be the last lexical item in an IP.
THE
NUCLEUS  Empty words. They are nouns that have
little meaning of their own because they
are general nouns: thing, people, places.
Well ΄go and \talk to people.
΄Don’t i\magine things.
 FINAL BUT NOT NUCLEAR

WORDS AND
PHRASES
THAT
TEND
NOT TO
 Expressions such as the man, the
RECEIVE
THE
woman, the boy, etc, which mean little
NUCLEUS more than the pronouns.
I ΄finally \met the woman.
Have you ̷ seen the guy?
 FINAL BUT NOT NUCLEAR

WORDS AND
PHRASES  Synonyms and repeated information, as
THAT
TEND well as pro-forms (one,some,any,etc) do
NOT TO
RECEIVE not get accented.
THE
NUCLEUS Have you got any apples? I \want some.
Have you got any apples? I \want some
of those fruits.
 FINAL BUT NOT NUCLEAR

WORDS AND
PHRASES  Adverbs and adverbial phrases of time
THAT
TEND and place are often not accented when
NOT TO
RECEIVE at the end of an IP, even if they contain
THE new information.
NUCLEUS

We’re ‘going to the \party tonight.

there’s a\concert tomorrow.
UNLESS THEY ARE NECCESARY FOR THE
MEANING. (SEE MORE)
AND SEE ALSO REPORTING CLAUSES
 FINAL BUT NOT NUCLEAR

OTHER  There are several adverbs and adverbial

UNFOCUSED
phrases that do not get accented. They go in
ADVERBS
the tail, with the nucleus on some earlier word.
AND There are two groups:
ADVERB IALS
1- Straightforward adverbs and adverbial phrases:
Then, though, or so, even, sort of, as it were, a
bit, you know…
We’ll see you on \Tuesday, then.
you’ve got to slow \down a bit.
 FINAL BUT NOT NUCLEAR

OTHER 2- Adverbs and adverbial phrases in this group can

UNFOCUSED alternatively be accented, as they can have
ADVERBS their own IP.
AND
if necessary, of course, please, thanks, thank
ADVERB IALS you, in a way, for a change, for…’s sake. In
fact, as a matter of fact, I woul/should have
thought, i imagine, enough (when it follows an
adjective)…
I’d like four \tickets, please.
She was rather an\noyed, in fact.
 NUCELUS ON THE LAST
NOUN (SEE MORE)
EVENT  Event sentences are those sentences which describe
an event, where the verb is intransitive. In these
SENTENCES sentences, the nucleus is located on the subject.
The nucleus falls on the noun about which something
is said.
The \phone’s ringing.
The \car won’t start.
The \brakes have failed.
There’s a \man at the door.
The \kettle’s boiling.
The \milkman’s here.
 NUCLEAR PHRASAL VERBS

PHRASAL
VERBS  Phrasal verbs consist of a verb plus a
particle. The general rule is that phrasal
verbs are lexically double-stressed, with
the primary stress going on the particle.
 NUCLEAR PHRASAL VERBS

PHRASAL
VERBS
If the nucleus comes on a phrasal verb, the
word on which this nucleus is located is
therefore typically the particle.
Those are my shoes / ΄take them \off?
You there get \up
She’s 'just turned \up
How are you getting \on.
It’s time to get \up, you know.
The plane’s just taken \off.
 NUCLEAR PHRASAL VERBS

PHRASAL
VERBS
 There is one important case where the nucleus
does not fall on the adverbial particle of a
phrasal verb. This is when the particle has
been separated from the verb: moved to a
position after the object. When this happens,
the object bares the nucleus if it is a content
word.
'Take \off.
'Take your \shoes off.
'Take them\off.
 NUCLEAR PHRASAL VERBS

PHRASAL
VERBS

'Switch \off.
You must 'switch them \off.
You must 'switch the \lights off.
 NUCLEAR PHRASAL VERBS

 Prepositional verbs consist of a verb plus a

PREPOSITIONAL particle which is clearly a preposition: look
VERBS
at, believe in, rely on. Prepositional verbs
are mostly lexically single-stressed, with the
primary stress going on the verb (the
second element being unstressed).
 NUCLEAR PHRASAL VERBS

If the nucleus comes on a prepositional

PREPOSITIONAL verb, the word on which this nucleus is
VERBS
located is typically the verb itself.

Why are you \staring at me?

Who can we \count on?
Pay a \look at it.