Chaptter 12
Length of a sound
202.The length of a sound is the length of time during which it is held on continuously in a given word or phrase.The principal facts concerning length in English are given in the following rules:
203.Length of vowels
1.English vowels [i:], [] are longer than the other English vowels in similar context,i.e ,when surrounded by the same sounds,and pronounced with the same degree of stress. Thus the vowels in bead [bi:d], bard [ba:d] board [b] ,food [fu:d] ,bird [b ],are longer than the vowels in bid [bid], bed [bed], lad [l] ,rod bud good .For this reason the vowels are known as the long vowels, and other English vowels are known as the short vowels. The English vowels are usually half as long as the long vowels .
2.Long vowels are longer when final or followed by a voiced consonant than when followed by a voiceless consonant
In the following two pairs of sentences:
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The vowels [i:] in the second see is longer than it is in the first one; the vowels [] in the second know is longer than it is in the first one, because they are final.
Similarly the vowel [] is longer in far [fa:] or hard [ha:d] than in heart [ha:t] ; the vowel [] is longer in lie [] oe lied than in light [] .
Vowels when final are even longer than when followed by a voiced consonant.
3. Long vowels and diphthongs are longer in stressed syllables than when followed by an unstressed syllable or syllables. Thus the vowel [] is longer in call [] than in calling [], the vowel [] in house [] is longer than in houses
This rule is the result of a general rhythmic tendency to make stresses alternate one another in connected speech at about equal distances. Thus the [] in the same sort of thing []. Similarly the [] in I heard more [] is much longer than that in I heard of it in the morning [].
4.Long vowels and dipthongs are longer in stressed syllables than in unstressed syllables:
Thus the [] in record [] is longer than the [] in record [] .Similarly the [] in idle [] is longer than the [] in idle
5.Short vowels are longer before voiced consonants than before voiceless consonants. Thus the [] pig [] is longer than in pick[].
6. Short vowels [],[] are longer and more distinct in an unstressed syllable ending a word than they are at the beginning of a word or in the unstressed syllable in the middle of a word. Thus the [] in better [] is longer and more distinct than it is in exam [] or in college [].
7. The short vowel [] is quite long when followed by voiced consonants , especially in the adjectives ending in “ad”, bad ,sad , glad ,etc. and in some nouns, man , bag , jam ,etc. Back, that at the end of a sentence are often pronounced with long []
What 'that ? When will you be back ?
204. Length of consonants : 1. Final consonants (except the plosive ) are longer when preceded by a short vowel than when preceded by a long vowel or by a diphthong. Thus the [] in hill [] , and the [] in dim [] is longer than in deem [] or that in dame [].
2. The sounds [] ,are longer when followed by voiced consonants than when followed by voiceless consonants. Thus the [] in bend [] is longer than in bent [] ; the [] in symbol [] in longer than that in simple [] ;the [] in cold [] is longer than that in colt [] .
(2)All of the students in this department study English and other subjects.
(3) All of the students in this department study English and other subjects for a course of four years
30 short pauses may be made between tone-groups within a sentence , but they are not always necessary .
Here are more examples:
If he comes, I tell him to do it
On the table , I there were no books .
I go to bed early, I as a general rule.
Usually I He takes the bus to work .
Last Wednesday I I wanted to get to London early .I So I caught a train I a bout an hour before my usual one I and I got to work I about half past eight.
