The Broken Descending Stepping Head

The Gradually Descending Stepping Head may have a monotonous effect, especially when the intonation group contains more than three stressed syllables. The monotony can be avoided by making an upward break somewhere in the middle of the head, after which a downward movement of the pitch is resumed. The effect of the break is achieved by pronouncing one of the stressed syllables on a higher pitch level than the preceding one.

E.g.: I ‘warned Mary about it ↑‘three or ‘more `times.

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The break generally occurs on any fully stressed syllable beginning with the third. It is usually made on words of sufficient semantic importance. These are frequently words that are singled out on account of their emotional colouring or because they express an unusual degree of some quality, very big or very small size, quantity, some extraordinary, unexpected actions. Some intensifying adverbs and modifiers (or their derivatives) that are emphatic by nature are:

absolute, hilarious, terrific, tremendous, splendid, awfully, terribly, great, really, definitely, literally, extremely, completely, entirely, especially, very, quite, too, far, stupid, boring.

There are also nouns (often in the plural) which can intensify the meaning, such as:

crowds, hundreds, thousands; and verbs like cry, shout, yet, push, etc.

Example: He had ‘never seen a ‘city so ‘’incredibly `strange.

Such heads sound expressive, lively.

The syllable on which a special break (called the Accidental rise) is made can be highlighted in different ways: 1) by high level tone mark while the preceding stressed syllable is marked by a mid or low level tone; 2) by a straight upward arrow beside the high level tone; 3) by an emphatic high level tone mark. For example:

He’s been ‘going in for ıchess since his ‘early `childhood.

He’s been ‘going in for ‘chess since his ↑‘early `childhood.

He’s been ‘going in for ‘chess since his ‘’early `childhood.

Speech exercises

Ex. 1 Read out the utterances with the High Head. Note that the first stressed syllable is more prominent than the others.

1 'What ˙makes you `think so? 2 He 'can’t make ˙up his `mind. 3 I 'don’t think he would `like it. 4 I’d 'rather go out to ˙have `lunch. 5 'Have you ˙made ͵sure? 6 As 'near the ˙beach as `possible. 7 I 'went there ˙last `year. 8 They came to 'stay with us ˙last `summer. 9 I’d 'like another ˙slice of `cake. 10 Mario 'won’t be back ˙till `Monday. 11 She 'watched the ˙clips of the wedding on t.`v.

Ex. 2 Compare the pitch contours of the Stepping and the High Heads. Note the monotony and extra prominence of the first one, and the light and airy attitude conveyed by the latter.

1 I 'shan’t 'stay a 'minute `longer. – I 'shan’t ˙stay a ˙minute `longer.

2 How 'long do you 'want me to `stay? – How 'long do you ˙want me to `stay?

3 He 'keeps 'telling the 'same `lies. – He 'keeps telling the ˙same `lies.

4 At 'nine 'thirty to'morrow `morning. – At 'nine thirty to˙morrow `morning.

5 I’m 'sure there’s 'nothing 'really `wrong with you. – I’m 'sure there’s ˙nothing really `wrong with you.

6 'Have a 'look at the `time-table. – 'Have a look at the `time-table.

7 'Drop me a 'line as 'soon as you ar`rive. – 'Drop me a line as ˙soon as you ar`rive.

8 Joe’ll 'never 'make it to the `Ivies. – Joe’ll 'never make it to the `Ivies.

<== попередня сторінка	\|	наступна сторінка ==>
The Gradually Descending Stepping Head	\|	Ex. 3 Read the utterances with the Broken Descending Head.

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