TONES, TONIC SYLLABLES TONES UNITS

1. TONES, TONIC SYLLABLESTONES UNITS MRS. SANDRA MOLINA C. UBB CHILLAN

2. What is the tonic syllable? • Tonic syllable is the last prominent syllable in the tone unit where the tone change begin. Tone unit is a sequence of accented syllables, one or more of which are prominent. Facts on Tone unit & Tonic Syllable: • Each tone unit contains only one tonic syllable. • Each tone unit carries one change of tone. • We mark Tone unit boundaries by placing a " rectangle " at the beginning of the Tone unit. • Tonic syllables must have a high degree of prominence. • Tonic syllables are syllables which carry a tone and also a type of stress. • Tonic syllables are also known as nucleus.

3. Examples: • Is it you: • Three-syllable utterance consisting of one tone-unit; • The only syllable that carries a tone (i.e. the tonic syllable or nucleus) is the third one. • John is it you : • Four-syllable utterance consisting of two tone-units;

4. Simple tone-unit: Head: the part of a tone-unit that extends from the first stressed syllable (the onset of the head) up to the tonic syllable. Remember that stressed words are (usually) content words (nouns, adjectives, verbs, adverbs). Bill called to give me these.

5. Pre-head: All the unstressed syllables preceding the first stressed syllable. In a little less than an hour. Tail: All the syllables following the tonic syllable up to the end of the tone-unit look at it both of them were ˙here.

6. Onset on a function word In the following examples the head is in blue and tonic syllable in red Interrogative wh-words are stressed: Who wrote thereport? How do youfeel? This is theofficer who wrote thereport.

7. What happens to nucleus placement when a (direct or indirect) question has the pattern wh-word + be + pronoun (i.e. it contains only function words)? • The nucleus goes on the verb be. • How are you? • Tell me how you are. • What is it? • Tell me what it is. • Welcome back! How’s it been? • Tell me how it’s been.

8. Who’s she? (pointing at somebody) • Who’s that? (hearing somebody at the door) • Who is that? (knocking at the door continues) • How old are you? • What’s it for? • What’s this button for?

9. In yes-no questions, an initial auxiliary or modal is optionally stressed: Did you remember? Can you swim? An initial contracted negative verb is almost always accented, so too is the word not. Haven’t we been here before? I’m not really sure.

10. The modals ought, used, need, dareare usually stressed even in statements. The other auxiliaries and modals are also often stressed in statements if by doing so we avoid an awkwardly long prehead. May, might, and should are usually stressed. I used to live in San Diego. I’m going to be late for work. Or I’m going to be late for work.

11. Pronouns are stressed not only when contrastive, but also when coordinated or to signal a change of grammatical subject or object. You do the ironing and I’ll wash the floor. (contrast) You and I could sort it out quickly. (coordination) Bill told Mary and then she told Jennifer. (object subject)

12. Locate the nucleus: Switch over to the BBC. I need some new running shoes. I’ve lost my credit card. I’ll tell them. Have you forgotten me? What are you looking at? Where does she come from? Who’s she with?

13. Solutions: Switch over to the BBC. I need some new running shoes. I’ve lost my credit card. I’ll tell them. Have you forgotten me? What are you looking at? Where does she come from? Who’s she with?

14. What’s it about? Take your umbrella with you. His tie’s got a stain on it. When is it? See who it is. You mustn’t annoy people. I’ve got something to say to you guys. (Why are you looking so worried?) I’ve got an exam this afternoon. (Everything OK?) It’s a bit hot in here.

15. What’s it about? Take your umbrella with you. His tie’s got a stain on it. When is it? See who it is. You mustn’t annoy people. I’ve got something to say to you guys. (Why are you looking so worried?) I’ve got an exam this afternoon. (Everything OK?) It’s a bit hot in here.