The Functional Aspect of Prosody

1. Meanings and functions of prosody.

2. The stylistic-distinctive function of prosody as the basis for differentiating phonetic styles.

3. The phonostylistic parameters and their constituent parts.

4. Phonostylistic properties of the informational style.

Основная литература

*Соколова, М.А. Теоретическая фонетика английского языка: Учеб. для студентов высш. учеб. заведений. 3-е изд., стереотип. / М.А. Соколова, К.П. Гинтовт, И.С. Тихонова и др. – М. Гуманитарный издательский центр ВЛАДОС, 2004. – С.184-215.

Дополнительная литература

*Соколова, М.А. Практическая фонетика английского языка: Учеб. для студентов высш. учеб. заведений /М. А. Соколова, К.П. Гинтовт, Л.А. Кантер и др. – М.: Гуманитарный издательский центр ВЛАДОС, 2003. – С. 228-237.

A. Think about the following questions for class discussion.

· Can you give any examples of the meanings of prosody which are of a general character?

· Do the meanings of prosody correlate which the meanings of words and grammatical structures?

· What basic functions does the prosody of the utterance perform?

· Which of the functions of prosody is significant for differentiating phonetic styles?

· Define (name) the phonostylistic parameters relevant to singling out phonostyles. What prosodic features (markers) are they represented by?

· What term is used to denote the style-forming intonation patterns (phonostylistic characteristics) common to all the registers (varieties) of a particular style?

· What is the choice of a phonetic style in the process of communication determined by?

· Why is the informational style viewed as formal or neutral?

· What spheres of discourse is the informational style manifested in? What speech typology is involved in this case? What about the degree of speech preparedness, the character of participants’ relationship and their number?

· Compare the invariant of phonostylistic characteristics of the reading of informational educational descriptive texts with the invariant of phonostylistic features common to the reading of news programmes (bulletins).

· In what way can this phonetic style be used in class?

B. Select examples from tape-recordings to illustrate

a) the communicative function of intonation (prosody);

b) the modal (attitudinal) function of prosody;

c) the accentual function of prosodic patterns;

d) the stylistic function of intonation;

e) the role of prosody in modifying the basic meanings of the words in an utterance.

 

B. Single out and compare the phonostylistic features characteristic of the following varieties (registers) of the informational style:

a) a broadcast talk

His work as a caricaturist is that in witch he most delighted – it was never a matter of formal training or set purpose with him. It began with marginal sketches in his school and college notebooks.

b) the reading of a number of news items on the radio.

1. Britain’s trade balance was in the red by a hundred and ninety three million pounds last month.

2. The forecasters say that much of England and Wales will be cloudy and wet.

3. Autumn seems to be arriving a little early this year and so the season of fogs will soon be with us.

4. The building employers and the Unions are still meeting.

5. Shares have been falling on the London stock market.

6. The Bank of England is accused of dictating terms to the Government.

(Brown, G. Listening to Spoken

English, 1984, p. 86)

Семинар 6.

Phonostylistic Characteristics of the Academic Style

Informal Conversational English

1. The spheres of communication in which the academic style is realized.

2. The prosodic features of the academic style.

3. Informal conversational English as opposed to written English read aloud.

4. Segmental and prosodic features as markers of informality in conversational style.

Основная литература

*Соколова, М.А. Теоретическая фонетика английского языка: Учеб. для студентов высш. учеб. заведений. 3-е изд., стереотип. / М.А. Соколова, К.П. Гинтовт, И.С. Тихонова и др. – М. Гуманитарный издательский центр ВЛАДОС, 2004. – С.215-221, 232-241.

Дополнительная литература

*Соколова, М.А. Практическая фонетика английского языка: Учеб. для студентов высш. учеб. заведений /М. А. Соколова, К.П. Гинтовт, Л.А. Кантер и др. – М.: Гуманитарный издательский центр ВЛАДОС, 2003. – С. 238-259.

A. Think about the following questions for class discussion.

· Why is the academic style viewed as a scientific style?

· What are the varieties of the language and the forms of communication relevant to the manifestation of the academic style?

· Outline the most important style-marking (segmental and prosodic) features of the academic lecture read aloud in public.

· In what way is the accentuation of semantic centres achieved, for example, in the sphere of discourse related to scientific talks and explanations at seminars?

· What are the markers of informality of conversational English?

· What types of stylistic modifications of sounds are characteristic of informal speech as opposed to formal speech?

· Are there also lexical and grammatical style-forming means typical of conversational style?

B. Find an informal conversational in a novel.

How does the novelist reflect the characteristic features of conversational? Are there graphic means to represent some of the prosodic features?

B. Examine the markers of informality of the following familiar conversation.

Which of the segmental and prosodic features have the most important stylistic function?

Jane: Well… maybe, but… take responsibility; the … the … you don’t need

as great a sense of responsibility for you… your kind of work as you do

in teaching – all those children, all those parents …

Brenda: No, but you do have your … your … your colleagues at work – you have a certain amount of responsibility to them.

(Sokolova et al. English Phonetics:

A Theoretical Course, 2004, p. 235)

B. How will the following phrases sound in informal speech?

· It wasn’t you turn.

· Did you get it?

· Not so light as it looks.

· He hasn’t come.

· Up and down.

B. Find some examples of assimilation, elision and reduction common to informal speech.

 

Семинар 7.

Publicistic Style and Declamatory Style

As Emotional and Expressive Phonostyles

1. Publicistic or oratorical style, its intonation contours.

2. The invariant of phonostylistic characteristics of publicistic speeches.

3. Declamatory style and its varieties.

4. The prosodic organization of prose reading and verse recitations.

Основная литература

* Соколова, М.А. Теоретическая фонетика английского языка: Учеб. для студентов высш. учеб. заведений. 3-е изд., стереотип. / М.А. Соколова, К.П. Гинтовт, И.С. Тихонова и др. – М. Гуманитарный издательский центр ВЛАДОС, 2004. – С.221-232.

Дополнительная литература

* Соколова, М.А. Практическая фонетика английского языка: Учеб. для студентов высш. учеб. заведений /М. А. Соколова, К.П. Гинтовт, Л.А. Кантер и др. – М.: Гуманитарный издательский центр ВЛАДОС, 2003. – С. 260-281.

 

A. Think about the following questions for class discussion.

· Why is the publicistic style called oratorical?

· What social spheres is this style manifested in?

· What function of intonation is predominant in publicistic discourse (against the background of other functions)?

· What are the most striking phonostylistic features of public political speeches?

· What function are of primary importance in the manifestation of the declamatory style?

· What registers of the declamatory style are essential for learning purposes?

· Define the functional role of rhythm in the artistic reading of literary prose and in verse recitations.

· Draw up a table presenting the invariant of phonostylistic characteristics of the declamatory prose reading.

· Compare the reading of literary prose and the reading of informational texts news coverage at the segmental and prosodic levels of analysis.

B. Imitate the presentation of the following public political speech, observing phonostylistic features common to the publicistic style. Show the proper balance between formality and informality in your speech performance.

A political Speech

Ladies and er … Gentlemen. I would like to talk to you for a moment about the current er … situation.

Never before has this country faced such a crisis point and what is needed is courage and honesty. Should we fail to deal with the situation firmly, the consequences could be er… absolutely disastrous for us all. It is at moments such as this that a true character of our nation shines through. But I seriously believe that the right action taken now will resolve the problems that have faced us so menacingly. (Applause). What we must all realize is that the way ahead is hard, and sacrifices must be made, but on no account and in no circumstances must our resolve be shaken…

(Leontyeva, S.F. A Theoretical Course

of English Phonetics, 2004, p. 260)

 

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