The transcription

We show these features by using. Small and capital letters for prominent syllables, underlining for tonic syllables:

a) two slanting lines (//) - to mark the beginning and end of a tone unit;

b) an arrow () or () - to indicate the tone which begins on the next tonic syllable, e.g. // as she likes READ ing //

3.1 First listen to these two examples of the falling tone from the conversation. The pitch begins to fall on the tonic syllable.

What shall we GIVE Claire?

We could give her a BOOK.

Now listen again and repeat each utterance. The arrows remind you to mark the pitch of your voice begin to fall on the tonic syllable.

3.2 Listen to this example of fall-rise tone from the conversation. The fall-rise movement begins on the tonic syllable and the pitch of the voice continues to rise:

as she likes READ ing.

Listen again and this time repeat the utterance. The arrow reminds you to start the fall-rise movement of pitch on the tonic syllable. Try to imitate the speaker and to make the diagram of your speech similar to that of the speaker (the model diagram). Compare these diagrams by overlapping them.

3.3 Now listen to this utterance. It contains both falling and falling-rising tone:

// as she likes READ ing// we could give her a BOOK.

Listen and repeat. Try to imitate the speaker and to make the diagram of your speech similar to that of the speaker. Compare these diagrams by overlapping them.

4.1 Listen to this example:

B: // I've got some LET ters to write. // on TUES day //

This is a suitable response in a context like this:

A: How about coming out for a drink on Tuesday?

B: // Un FOR tunately // I’ve got some LETt ers to write // on TUES day //

where Tuesday is an idea already shared by A and B.

Now go on in the same way.

A is trying to persuade B to go out for a drink but B has something arranged every night and can't accept. Some ideas are given to help B to give reasons for being unavailable, but you may think of your own.

1. A: Why don't we go on Wednesday then?

B: // I’m a FRAID // (meeting) // on WED nesday //

2. A: Can you go on Thursday?