Rhythm
What is rhythm?
• The rhythm of a language is characterized by the
timing pattern of successive syllables.
• In some languages, every syllable is given about
the same length, while in others, syllables vary in
length.
• In English, strong beats are called stress --- the
heart of the rhythmic pattern.
Syllable-timed
• “面包加牛奶”
• “一片面包加一杯牛奶”
• bread and milk
• some bread and some milk
Stress-timed
stress --- the heart of the rhythmic pattern
in English language system.
English is a Stress Timed Language!
The English language is often referred to as stress-timed.
Stress in a spoken sentence occurs at regular intervals and
the time to say something depends on the number of
stressed syllables rather than the number of syllables itself.
• 1234
• 1 and 2 and 3 and 4
• 1 and a 2 and a 3 and a 4
• 1 and then a 2 and then a 3 and then a 4
Stress Group
--- A stressed syllable together with any unstressed syllables which
may follow.
e.g. The `professor
/ is in `London
The young `professor / arrived at `London
/ to`night.
/ yesterday `night.
The retired `professor / will arrive at `London port / the `night
following.
Note:
1.
The most important rule in English rhythm is that the stressed
syllable and the unstressed syllable share the amount of time
which a single stressed syllable would have. (e.g. nine/ ninety/
ninetieth)
2.
Each stress group within a word group is given the same
amount of time.
3.
There is a great difference of length between the unstressed
syllable and the stressed one.
• Bert’s friend John has just sold two very fine old
paintings.
• The Daniel Jones Pronouncing Dictionary lists
most versions of modern English pronunciation.
• What would you have done if he had talked to
you in the street?
• It would have been better not to have paid for it
before you had received it.
Content words - stressed
Words carrying the meaning Example
main verbs
SELL, GIVE, EMPLOY
nouns
CAR, MUSIC, MARY
adjectives
RED, BIG, INTERESTING
adverbs
QUICKLY, LOUDLY, NEVER
negative auxiliaries
DON'T, AREN'T, CAN'T
function words - unstressed
Words for correct grammar Example
pronouns
he, we, they
prepositions
on, at, into
articles
a, an, the
conjunctions
and, but, because
auxiliary verbs
do, be, have, can, must