II. Note the difference in the placement and type of pauses, as well as the number and length of intonation-groups in reading an extract of fiction and spontaneous speech

a) ¯With a ^↗nervous ‚sniff the ˈwhite ‚Rabbit ^↗clapped his ^↗watch ˙into his ‚pocket,│ˈscurried the ‚field and ˈdisapˌpeared down a ˈlarge ˈrabbit-˙hole under the _\hedge. ˆBurning with curi_\osity ˆAlice ˙raced ‘after him│and ^↘not ˙stopping to ^↘think for a ˇmoment she “dived into the ‘rabbit-hole. It ˈseemed ˆvery ˌdark in the ‘area in‚side after the ˈsunlit ˇfield and ˇAlice ˈin her ˙anˌxiety to ˈcatch ˙up with the ˈwhite _\Rabbit,│quite for‚got to ^↗look ^↗where she was ‘going,│ and ˈfound herself ‚falling ˙down a “very “deep _\well. ˈDown, >down, >down she _\went.

b) ‘Oh, it’s ^↘nice to ^↘see you a‚gain, ˇafter all these weeks. ‘Four ‚weeks ¦ do ‘seem a ˙long _\time. I "really en‘joyed myself. ¯Oh, _\yes. ˈYes, the "weather was fan“tastic,│and there was ˈlots of ˈthings to _\do. You "never got ˇbored there. We went ‚swimming and ‚riding and ‚sightseeing. ¯Oh, yes,│I’ve ˌbrought ˈlots of ˙souvenirs _\bасk. Must ˆshow you,│I’ve ˈnot been unˇpacked yet. _\Yes,│I spent ˈlots and ˈlots of ‚time ˈtalking to the ‘people. They are ˈvery ˆfriendly. I ˈdidn’t have much ‘trouble,│ ˈnot after the ‘first couple of _\weeks. I got to ˈknow all a“bout them,│their ‚customs and tra‚ditions. Oh, I’ll “always remember ˌthat. Yes, I’ll have to ˈshow you my ˆphotographs│as soon as I’ve un‚packed.

III. Compare the intonation of the identical sentences in the following pairs of formal and informal conversations. Note the tendency towards rising, falling-rising and rising-falling nuclear tones, high prehead, higher general pitch and faster tempo in informal conversations.

1. a) – It’s a ‘nice ‚cafe. But I’m a^↘fraid we shall ˙have to _\leave._(fast)

– ‘Oh, ‘Kate, ¯just a ‘few minutes ‚more ...

– ¯All ‚right. But ˈdon't be ˙late for the ˇtrain. It ‘leaves in ˌhalf an ˌhour, ‘you
‚know._(fast) ‘Try to be ˌready by ˌthat ‚time._(fast)

b) – ˈHere is a ‘ticket ˌfor you. And ^↘don’t be ^↘late for the ‘train.

– ˌWhen does it ‘leave?

– In ˈtwo ‘hours. ˈTry to be “ready by ˌthat ‚time.

2. a) – ˈDo you re˙member his ‘telephone ‚number? _(fast)

– ˌYes, I ‘do.

– ˈRing him ‘up. ˈAsk him to ˙come to ‘see me, ’would you?

– ˈTry to˙do it to‘day. _(fast) I ˈneed to ‘see him ˈstraight a‘way.

– ¯All ‚right.

b) – ˈDo you ˙know his ‘telephone ˌnumber?

– ‘Yes, I ‘do.

– ˈRing him ‘up then. ˈAsk him to ‘come and ‘see me, ˌwill you? ˈTry to ^↘do it to‘day. I ‘need to ‚see him aˌbout an ˙urgent ‘matter.

– _\Yes, sir.

3. a) – I’d ˈlike to ‘ask you, sir, ˈwhether you could ‘see me next ˌweek.

– ‘Certainly.

– ˈWhat ˙time’s con^↘venient for ‘you?

– ˈCome whenˈever you are >free.

– ˇThank you.

b) – ¯Hal‚lo, ˙Ann. I’d ^↘like you to ^↘help me with my ‘maths. I’m ^↘taking an e^↘xam ‘next week, you ‚know. _(fast)

– With ‘pleasure.

– ˈWhat ˙time’s con‘venient for ‘you?

– ˈCome whenever you are ˆfree.

– ‘Thank you.

4. a) – ˈWhat about that ˆpicture, Dave? Do you ˈthink it would ˙go ‘well on that ‘wall? _(fast)

– ‘No, I ˈthink it would be ˇbetter on the ˙wall ˙facing the ‘window. _(fast)

– I ^↘think so ‘too. ¯Help me to ‚move it ˙then. _(fast)

b) – ˈLook at this ‘map. ˈIsn’t it ˈtoo ˈhigh ˙up to ’see?

– ‘Yes, I ‘think so, ˌsir. ¯It would be ^↘better a ^↘few ˙inches ‘lower.

– ˈHelp me to ‘move it ˌthen.

5. a) – ‘Listen, ‚Joe, I ^↘can’t ˙find the ^↘register ˇanywhere. ˆSure I ˙put it in my ‘drawer ‚yesterday.

– Are you ’sure? _(fast)

– ˌAbso‘lutely.

b) – If you ˈwant to ˙get to the ‘post-‚office, ˈturn to the ‘right. Perˌhaps, it’s the ‘shortest ‚way. _(slow)

– ˈAre you ‚sure? ¯I am in a ˇhurry. _(fast)

– Of _\course, I’m ‚sure.

6. a) – It’s ˇlate and I am ˈfeeling ‘tired. And I’m a bit ‘chilly on such a ‚day. _(fast)

– ¯Have you ˈordered ‘tea?

– ‘Yes,│ I ¯here ˙comes the ‘waiter ˌnow._(fast)

– ‘Good.

b) – It’s ˈnearly ‘5, sir. ˈHave you ˙ordered ‚tea?

– ‘Yes,│ but I ˈdon’t ˙know ˙why it ˈhasn’t ˇcome yet.