Unit 18. Интонация предложений с прямой речью. Intonation of author's words.

Предложение, вводящее прямую речь, выделяется в отдельную синтагму и произносится либо восходящим, либо нисходящим тоном, либо на среднем уровне (Midlevel). Например:

Слова автора после прямой речи обычно неударны или полуударны и продолжают интонацию предшествующего ударного слога. Например:

Если слова автора после прямой речи представляют собой распространенное предложение, они произносятся тем же тоном, что и предшествующая интонационная группа в прямой речи. Например:

В косвенной речи это предложение обычно не образует самостоятельной смысловой группы. Например:

Exercise I. Read the following sentences. Observe the intonation of the author's words.

1. "We're not late I hope," I asked. 2. "Pass the sugar, please," she said in a voice just as sweet. 3. "I don't mind," my mother said with a smile. 4. "Are you ready?" he asked in an impatient tone. 5. "Can you come?" he asked quietly. 6. "Please, take one," she said invitingly. 7, "Is this for me?" he asked with surprise. 8. "Do you think it's true?" they kept on asking. 9. Ann says to Nina, "I can give you my book." 10. Peter asks me, "Are there several departments at your faculty?" 11. The girls ask me, "What is the assistant dean responsible for?" 12. The girl asks me if I've got any photos of our Institute. 13. Helen says she is fond of music. 14. Mary says, "We have a big garden in front of our house." 15. Mary says they have a big garden in front of their house.

Exercise II. Listen to the following sentences. Mark the stresses and tunes. Read them.

1. "Right," he said slowly. 2. The teacher said, "Stand up." 3. He asked, "Is education in Russia free?" 4. She asked, "What do American journalists write about the Russian educational system?" 5. "We decided not to give the usual marks,» says Shalva Amonashvili. 6. "They are teaching the children well," said Shalva in conclusion. 7. "My teachers have to be good," said the director. 8. The guide says that there are thirty principal theatres in London. 9. The author says that peace movement in Europe is acquiring diverse forms. 10. The teacher asks who is absent from the lesson.

Exercise III. Read the text. Pick up sentences with direct speech, comment on them.

Three Men in a Boat

by J. K. Jerome

It was Mrs. Poppets that woke me up next morning. She said, "Do you know that it is nearly nine o'clock, Sir?" "Nine o'what?" I asked starting up. "Nine o'clock," she replied through the keyhole, "I thought, you were oversleeping yourselves."

I woke Harris and told him. He said, "I thought you wanted to get up at six." "So did I," I answered, "why didn't you wake me?" "How could I wake you, when you didn't wake me?" he retorted.

Exercise IV. Prepare the joke for test reading.

Every Cloud Has Its Silver Lining

The father was reading the school report which had just been handed to him by his hopeful son. His brow was wrathful as he read, "English — poor, French — weak, mathematics — poor," and he gave a glance of disgust at the son. "Well, dad," said the son, «It's not as good as it might be but have you seen that?" And he pointed to the next line which read "Health — excellent."

Exercise V. Read the jokes and reproduce them in indirect speech.

1. — Is that Nora? asked Willy.

— Yes, Nora is speaking, asnwered the girl.

— Marry me, Nora, and marry me quickly, he pleaded.

— Yes, I will, — was the reply, But who is speaking?

2. — Must I stick it on myself? asked a lady who had bought a . postage stamp.

— No, madam, replied the counter-clerk, "It's much better to stick it on the envelope."

3. An intelligent small boy was asked by a well-meaning fatuous passenger, "How old are you?" "I'm four," replied the child. "I wish I were four," observed the passenger gravely. The child replied with calm practicality, "But you were four once."

4. A schoolboy said to his father, "I can prove to you by arithmetic that those two chickens are three." "Oh!" said his father, "how

do you manage that?" "Well, this is one, and that is two: and one and two make three," answered the boy with a smile. "How clever!» exclaimed his father. Then your mother shall have the first, I'll eat the second and you can have the third."