| Listen and Learn: The Intonation of Two-Word | | | | a "fat BOY" is an overweight young male.But |
| ExpressionsMany people think that pronunciation is | | | | sometimes short two word expressions are set |
| what makes up an accent. It may be that | | | | or "consecrated", (that is, they mean something |
| pronunciation is very important for an | | | | special) and have to be made different from |
| understandable accent. But it is intonation that | | | | similar expressions. One example is "the WHITE |
| gives the final touch that makes an accent | | | | house" where Mr. Bush lives. In this case, the |
| correct or native.Intonation is the "music" of a | | | | emphasis is on the adjective because we are |
| language, and is perhaps the most important | | | | more interested in stressing that it is the house |
| element of a correct accent. Often we hear | | | | that is known because it is white. In the same |
| someone speaking with perfect grammar, and | | | | way, "FAT boy" is the nickname of a boy, chosen |
| perfect formation of the sounds of English but | | | | because the word fat emphasizes his weight.It will |
| with a little something that gives her away as not | | | | be useful for you to be aware of both types of |
| being a native speaker.Therefore, it is necessary | | | | two word expressions. Here is a list of a few that |
| to realize that there is more than the correct | | | | will get you thinking and give you some practice in |
| pronunciation of the vowels and consonants of a | | | | identifying them and using them correctly. |
| language. This is very important and we do stress | | | | Underline the syllable that is stressed, and write a |
| it in other articles. But it is only one of the three | | | | brief explanation, for both uses of each phrase. I |
| components to an accent, pronunciation, | | | | start the exercise with two examples. You do the |
| intonation, and linking.In other places we will | | | | rest. Make sure you say the phrases OUT |
| examine the correct pronunciation of vowels and | | | | LOUD!WHITE house |
| consonants, and linking, the way that syllables | | | | In Washingtonwhite HOUSE |
| within a word, and the beginning and ending of | | | | House painted whiteLIGHT bulb |
| words come together.But in this article we will | | | | Shines with electricityLight BULB |
| look at how the difference that intonation makes | | | | A bulb that is not heavyNow do these, underling |
| in the daily use of a proper North American | | | | the syllable that is stressed, and defining the word |
| English accent. The practice will help you to notice, | | | | that has the indicated intonation.Dark room, Dark |
| practice, and master the different intonation | | | | roomA cold fish, A gold fishThe paper box, The |
| patterns that you will discover as you | | | | paper boxAn old key, A door keyA nice watch, A |
| concentrate more on your use of North American | | | | wrist watchA sticky web, A spider webA clean |
| English. Two Word StressKnowing when and | | | | cup, A coffee cupA toy gun, A water gunA bright |
| where to stress the words you use is very | | | | star, A movie starA new ball, A foot ballA sharp |
| important for understanding, and therefore, as | | | | knife, A steak knifeAn old brush, A hair brushA |
| part of a good accent. A clear example is that of | | | | dry leaf, A fig leafA pointy tack, A thumb tackA |
| stress in two word expressions.According to | | | | blackboard, A black boardA green house, A green |
| whether it is an ordinary two-word expression or | | | | houseFor more articles on intonation, search with |
| a special, set expression, the place of the stress | | | | the keyword "intonation".Frank Gerace Ph.D has |
| changes. In an ordinary expression the two words | | | | worked in Latin America in UN and national |
| are used to describe something like a "white | | | | Educational and Communication Projects, and has |
| HOUSE" (meaning a house that is painted white, | | | | taught in Bolivian and Peruvian Universities. He |
| and not blue or gray). In this case the most | | | | currently teaches English in New York City at La |
| important note is the noun because we are talking | | | | Guardia College/CUNY. |
| about a house that happens to be white. Similarly, | | | | |