Transcript ESL 151 Focus-2-1

Speech Rhythm: Stress and Unstress
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P.76 Three levels of stress:
strong stress = focus words
 normal stress = content words
 unstress = structure words
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Focus words and content words are
important!
Try it Out!
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How many of levels of stress are there?
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What are they called?
Focus and Content Words
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I FOUND a DOLlar in my POCKet.
I forGOT to SET the aLARM.
 What parts of speech are the following content
words?
 found dollar pocket forget set alarm
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Content words are often ________,_________,
or adjectives.
Try it Out!
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What kinds of words are content words?
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Give an example of each kind of content
word.
Structure Words
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I am PLANning to TAKE a TRIP.
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She LIKES SALT and PEPper on her
EGGS.
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What are the unstressed structure words
above?
Structure Words
I she her his you am are have to the
and from
 Structure words are often _______,
___________, helping verbs, and other
small grammatical units.
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Try it Out!
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What are structure words?
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Give an example of three different types
of structure words.
Tap the Rhythm
DOGS
 The DOGS
 The DOGS are
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CHASE
CATS
CHASE
the CATS
CHASing the CATS.
PEOple
PLANT
TREES
 The PEOple are PLANTING
TREES
 The PEOple have PLANTED some TREES.
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Predicting Stress
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P.80
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Fill in the chart with a partner.
Try it Out!
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Name 6 types of content words.
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Name 6 types of structure words.
Focus Words
Focus words are the most important content
words in a thought group!
1. Focus words are usually the last content
word in each thought group or short
sentence. I went to the MOVies.
2. Focus words are important parts of
speech.
Focus Words
3. If there are several content words in a
row, the last one gets the focus.
4. Adverbs at the end of the sentence that
answer the questions where and when are
often unstressed and fall in pitch.
 Ex. I’m planning to leave now.
Focus Words
5. Structure words at the end sentences are
unstressed and fall in pitch.
 Ex. I’ll wait for you.
6. Speakers usually divide longer sentences with
more than five or six words into more than one
thought group with a focus word in each.
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Ex. Some credit card COMpanies/ offer low
Interest/ but they charge an annual FEE./
Try it Out!
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Discuss your open scene with your
partner. Which content word in each
thought group of your dialogue should be
the focus word?
Why?
 Practice stressing the focus words.
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