Unit 1
Section 1
Make a careful study of the text below and pick out the terms related to phonetics.
Phonetics as a Science
As you know, language is a very complex system of human communication, which is realized in spoken and written speech. Learning a foreign language is a lifelong process and one needs ample praсtiсe in all its aspects (grammar, lexicon and phonetics) to master it. The student’s mastery of English is measured by how well he can use it in his speech and in writing.
Written English and spoken English are obviously very different things. Writing consists of marks on paper – letters – which are taken in by the eye (we read and write then), whilst speaking is organized sounds – sounds – taken in by the ear.
It is common knowledge that language starts with the ear. We acquire ability to listen and speak long before acquiring reading and writing skills, so one cannot doubt the importance of developing good articulatory and perceptive habits.
Phonetics is a branch of linguistics which studies the sound matter of the language and the way people produce, transmit and receive speech sounds. In its turn this science is divided into four main branches:
- articulatory phonetics, which studies the way the vocal organs are used to make speech sounds;
- acoustic phonetics, which is the study of the physical properties of speech sounds;
- auditory (or perceptive) phonetics, dealing with the way people perceive speech sounds.
- functional phonetics (or phonology) studies the linguistic functions of different phonetic units (sounds, syllables, stress, intonation etc.).
The primary objectives of most foreign learners are to understand English speech and to be understood, in other words, to hear and speak clearly. Ability to recognize and ability to pronounce the sounds of a foreign language are equally important. It has been proved that the better we pronounce separate sounds, their combinations, words and sentences, the easier we understand them in the speech of other people, and vice versa.
It is for this reason that only articulatory and auditory/perceptive branches are under study in the practical phonetic course.
Section 2 [ i:]
(front, close (narrow variant), unrounded, long)
I. Observe the position of the lips and the tongue for the sound [ i:]. Read the
words in the columns. Pay attention to the positional length of [ i:].
see seed seat
fee feed feet
Be bead beat
he heed heat
pea peas peace
knee knees niece
II. Read the sentences. Follow the tonetic marks.
1. Pleased to meet you. Рад познакомиться с вами.
2. Please be seated. Садитесь, пожалуйста.
3. A pea for a bean. Отказ от малого в надежде на большее.
4. Extreems meet. Крайности сходятся.
5. Greek meets Greek. Нашла коса на камень.
6. Pete eats chiefly meat. Пит ест, в основном, мясо.
7. How about meeting my people. Ты можешь встретиться с моими
at three? родителями в 3 часа?
8. Please feel free to live. Пожалуйста, уходи, когда захочется.
9. My niece feels seedy. Моя племянница чувствует себя
неважно.
III. Observe the correct pronunciation of the rhythmic groups and vowels.
'Come to `tea.|'Come to 'tea `with me. ç'Come to 'tea'with me by the
`sea.ç 'If you are ˇfree ç'come to 'tea 'with me by the `sea.ç 'Do you agree
to 'come to 'tea 'with me by the sea?||
IV. Match the following English idioms, proverbs and sayings with their Russian
equivalents. Make up situations to illustrate their usage.
1.the bee’s knees a. безупречная репутация
2. A friend in need is a friend indeed b. между двух огней
3. between the devil and the deep sea c. величина, уникум, «шишка»
4. to heal the breach d. положить конец долгой ссоре
5. a clean sheet e. Друзья познаются в беде
6. beat a retreat f. быть выставленным за дверь
на ночь глядя
7. grease the wheels g. непринужденный, бесцеремонный
8. free and easy h. уладить дело
9. get the key of the street i. обеспечить беспрепятственное
Движение
V. Practise the pronunciation of the following rhyme and learn it by heart.
Every Time I Climb a Tree
by David McCord
Every time I climb a tree
Every time I climb a tree
Every time I climb a tree
I scrape a leg
On skin a knee.
And every time I climb a tree
I find some ants
Or dodge a bee
And get the ants
All over me.
And every time I climb a tree
Where have you been?
They say to me
But don’t they know that I am free
Every time I climb a tree?
For every time I climb a tree
I see a lot of things to see
Swallows, rooftops and TV
And all the fields and farms there be
Every time I climb a tree.
Though climbing may be good for ants
It isn’t awfully good for pants
But still it’s pretty good for me
Every time I climb a tree.
VI. Practise saying the tongue twisters. Observe the correct articulation of [ i:].
1. Please, Pete, eat lean meat.
2. A sailor went to sea
To see what he could see.
And all he could see,
Was sea, sea, sea.
Section 3
I. Listen to the dialogue and learn it by heart.
In a Restaurant
Peter: What would you like to eat, Edith?
Edith: A meat sandwich.
Peter: Jean? Would you like a meat sandwich or a cheese sandwich?
Jean: A cheese sandwich, please, Peter.
Waiter: Good evening.
Peter: Good evening. We’ll have one meat sandwich and two cheese sandwiches.
Edith: And three teas, please!
Waiter: (writing down the order) One meat sandwich… two cheese sandwiches…
and three teas.
II. Conversational practice. (Asking alternative questions)
You are in a restaurant. Practise your own conversation, using this menu.
MENU
Leek soup Veal Beans Cheesecake Coffee
Pea soup Beef Peas Peaches Tea
Ice-cream
