精通美语语音文本连读

Chapter 2: word connectionsAs mentioned in the previous chapter, in American English, words are not pronounced one by one. Usually, the end of one word attaches to the beginning of the next word. This is also true for initials, numbers, and spelling. Part of the glue that connects sentences is an underlying hum or drone that only breaks when you come to a period, and sometimes not even then. You have this underlying hum in your own language and it helps a great deal toward making you sound like a native speaker.Once you have a strong intonation, you need to connect all those stair steps together so that each sentence sounds like one long word. This chapter is going to introduce you to the idea of liaisons, the connections between words, which allow us to speak in sound groups rather than in individual words. Just as we went over where to put an intonation, here you’re going to learn how to connect words. Once you understand and learn to use this technique, you can make the important leap from this practical book to other materials and your own conversation.To make it easier for you to read, liaisons are written like this: they tell me the dai measier.(you’ve already encountered some liaisons in exercise 1-38,1-49,1-53.) It could also be written theytellmethedaimeasier, but it would be too hard to read.Exercise 2-1: Spelling and pronunciationRead the following sentences. The last sentences should be pronounced exactly the same, no matter how they are written. It is the sound that is important, not the spelling.The dime .The dime easier.They tell me the dime easier.They tell me the dime easier to understand. They tell me that I’m t easier to understand.Liaison rule 1: consonant/vowelWords are connected when a word ends in a consonant sound and the next word starts with a vowel sound, including the semivowel W,Y and R.Exercise 2-2: word connectionsMy name is…B ecause I’ve….Pick up on the American intonationIn the preceding example, the word name ends in a consonant sound [m](the e is silent and doesn’t count), and is starts with a vowel sound [i] , so [naymiz] just naturally flows together. In because I’ve, the [z] at the end of because and the [ai] sound of I blend together smoothly. When you say the last line “Pick up on the American intonation”, you can feel each sound pushing into the next.Exercise 2-3: spelling and number connectionsYou can also use liaisons in spelling and numbers:LA(Los Angeles)902-5050Exercise 2-4: Consonant/vowel liaison practicePause the CD and reconnect the following words. On personal pronouns, it is common to drop the H. See answer key, beginning on page 193.Repeat after me.Hold on Turn over Tell her I miss her 1. read only 2. fall off 3. follow up on 4. come in 5. call him6. sell it7. take out8. fade away9. 6-010. MAHomework (to be shown or submitted next Wednesday):Assignments under the categories writing, speaking and reading. Have students consider which of these skills they most need to practice and then have them choose one assignments for their personal agenda. Have each student write her or his name next to the specific assignment she or he has chosen.Writing:1）Write a summary of the text.2）Choose one of a famous person mentioned in the text you know, then write something about your ideas of his/her fame.3）Write something on the quotation about fame, such as:He who pursues fame at the risk of losing his self is not a scholar.行名失己，非士也Chuang-tzu庄子 (369 BC - 286 BC), The Great Supreme大宗师Speaking:1）Conduct an interview with your partner:One: a host or hostessThe other one: Oscar WildeTask: Wilde tells the host/hostess his story and answers the questions about fame from thehost/hostess.2）Dubbing with your partners the movie clips from 甲方乙方in English:Step 1: Note down the linesStep 2: Translate the lines into EnglishStep 3: Assign the roles in the group and dub the clip.3）With a partner, prepare a mock debate of the issue: 出名要趁早Present the debate to the whole class.Reading:1）Write a quiz (with answers and explanations) about Text A to exchange with members of the others who have done the same assignment. The answers and explanations shouldn’t be exchanged until each of this group has finished others’ quiz.2）Make a list of the words other than those listed in “New Words”, then, using a dictionary, create a glossary with English explanations and example sentence for each word. Note: these words should not be obscure ones.3）Surf on the internet or examine an English magazine or a piece of newspaper with some article about famous people (in various fields, including movie/sports stars, TV anchors, even heated discussed persons on the internet, such as 小月月，美籍韩国姐妹歌手，etc.), write a review recommending the article to your classmates, giving the reasons for your opinion.Unit OneNew WordsChase1.If you chase a person or an animal, you run after them of follow them quickly in order to catch them. (after) Chase the dog/ rabbit2.If you chase a person or animal from a place, you force them to leave the place by threatening or attackingthem or running after them. 驱离，驱逐V+O=drivechase the cow / enemy out of...They were chased from the village.3.If you chase something that you want such as work or money, you spend a lot of time and effort trying to getit. 寻求（工作）；追求（金钱）V+O; V+A(after)=pursuechase a decent job, chase one’s dreamMany men become workaholic, chasing success and often neglecting their children.He was chasing after some film job. 谋求电影摄制方面的工作。