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Usenet Posted 22 years ago
Learning
Urgent: Is polite vs. unmarked intonation real in American English?
I'm supposed to give an ESL lesson on the distinction between polite and neutral intonations for yes/no questions in a few days. In examining the coursebook materials, I realized that I don't actually make such a distinction in American English. Apparently intonation conveys a level of politeness in British English, but try as I might, I can't come up with any type of level-of-politeness distinction in my own American English that is communicated by intonation.
The problem is: What am I to do? Should I rigorously follow the coursebook and drill students based on what's on the tape (spoken by British speakers), even though I don't really perceive any difference in meaning between the two intonations? Should I drill students using myself as model, by imitating the pronunciations on the tape (if I can even do so--I'm not sure I can), even though I never make such distinctions myself? And what should I tell students about the absence of these distinctions in American English, if anything?
-- Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.
The problem is: What am I to do? Should I rigorously follow the coursebook and drill students based on what's on the tape (spoken by British speakers), even though I don't really perceive any difference in meaning between the two intonations? Should I drill students using myself as model, by imitating the pronunciations on the tape (if I can even do so--I'm not sure I can), even though I never make such distinctions myself? And what should I tell students about the absence of these distinctions in American English, if anything?
-- Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.
Top answer
[nq:1]I'm supposed to give an ESL lesson on the distinction between polite and neutral intonations for yes/no questions in a ... such distinctions myself? [/nq] It's the intonation in the question rather than the answer is it?
- [nq:1]I'm supposed to give an ESL lesson on the distinction between polite and neutral intonations for yes/no questions in a ...
- such distinctions myself?
- [/nq] It's the intonation in the question rather than the answer is it?
- Can you give us some examples as used on the tape?
- " - flat - disinterested, rude - slow rise - incredulity - check Dilbert's 'Incredulous Ed' character...
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31 Answers
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[nq:1]I'm supposed to give an ESL lesson on the distinction between polite and neutral intonations for yes/no questions in a ... such distinctions myself? And what should I tell students about the absence of these distinctions in American English, if anything?[/nq]
It's the intonation in the question rather than the answer is it? Can you give us some examples as used on the tape?
In
It's the intonation in the question rather than the answer is it? Can you give us some examples as used on the tape?
In
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Django Cat writes:
[nq:1]It's the intonation in the question rather than the answer is it?[/nq]
They are yes/no questions, structured as such, for example:
"Could you begin, John?"
Apparently there are two possible intonations in British English for this type of question, one being neutral or unmarked, and the other being "polite." However, there is no difference in Amer
[nq:1]It's the intonation in the question rather than the answer is it?[/nq]
They are yes/no questions, structured as such, for example:
"Could you begin, John?"
Apparently there are two possible intonations in British English for this type of question, one being neutral or unmarked, and the other being "polite." However, there is no difference in Amer
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Django Cat writes:
[nq:1]PS which tape/coursebook is it?[/nq]
International Express (although this British-only lesson is making me wonder about the "International" part).
-- Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.
[nq:1]PS which tape/coursebook is it?[/nq]
International Express (although this British-only lesson is making me wonder about the "International" part).
-- Transpose hotmail and mxsmanic in my e-mail address to reach me directly.
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[nq:1]Django Cat writes:[/nq]
[nq:2]It's the intonation in the question rather than the answer is it?[/nq]
[nq:1]They are yes/no questions, structured as such, for example: "Could you begin, John?" Apparently there are two possible intonations in ... it for students. I don't have the tape at home so I won't be able to review it until tomorrow.[/nq]
[nq:2]Can you give us some examples
[nq:2]It's the intonation in the question rather than the answer is it?[/nq]
[nq:1]They are yes/no questions, structured as such, for example: "Could you begin, John?" Apparently there are two possible intonations in ... it for students. I don't have the tape at home so I won't be able to review it until tomorrow.[/nq]
[nq:2]Can you give us some examples
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PS again - the guy next door comes from Las Vegas, I must go for a beer with him and check his intonation!
DCC 16 hours to go. Is that a light at the end of the tunnel or the onset of photophobia?
DCC 16 hours to go. Is that a light at the end of the tunnel or the onset of photophobia?
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I think it is entirely possible to use intonation to indicate politeness in American English.
Ask an African American friend to drive around in a town at night and wait for a white police officer to appear and stop his car. Ask this friend to tape the conversation.
... I am just being sarcastic ..
[nq:1]Django Cat writes:[/nq]
[nq:2]It's the intonation in the question ra
Ask an African American friend to drive around in a town at night and wait for a white police officer to appear and stop his car. Ask this friend to tape the conversation.
... I am just being sarcastic ..
[nq:1]Django Cat writes:[/nq]
[nq:2]It's the intonation in the question ra
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Django Cat writes:
[nq:1]Hmm, very curious. First of all I've never heard of the text book, but as you say it doesn't sound very Intenational (is it written specifically for learners in the country you're in and by a local national by any faint chance?) and by.[/nq]
Written by Liz Taylor, Oxford University Press, in the UK. It's supposed to be for any ESL students.
[nq:1]Try teaching
[nq:1]Hmm, very curious. First of all I've never heard of the text book, but as you say it doesn't sound very Intenational (is it written specifically for learners in the country you're in and by a local national by any faint chance?) and by.[/nq]
Written by Liz Taylor, Oxford University Press, in the UK. It's supposed to be for any ESL students.
[nq:1]Try teaching
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A. Kong writes:
[nq:1]I think it is entirely possible to use intonation to indicate politeness in American English.[/nq]
Possible, perhaps, but not realistic.
[nq:1]Ask an African American friend to drive around in a town at night and wait for a white police officer to appear and stop his car. Ask this friend to tape the conversation.[/nq]
If the friend was born in the U.S., I dou
[nq:1]I think it is entirely possible to use intonation to indicate politeness in American English.[/nq]
Possible, perhaps, but not realistic.
[nq:1]Ask an African American friend to drive around in a town at night and wait for a white police officer to appear and stop his car. Ask this friend to tape the conversation.[/nq]
If the friend was born in the U.S., I dou
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== Hi, just quickly...
If you're as worried about this as you obvously are, and it's for TP, you can't fail to gain Brownie Points by discussing your concerns with your tutor before the observation. It'll show that you're thinking about varieties of English, interested in pronunciation systems, concerned about what your learners learn and concerned about your own development as a teacher
If you're as worried about this as you obvously are, and it's for TP, you can't fail to gain Brownie Points by discussing your concerns with your tutor before the observation. It'll show that you're thinking about varieties of English, interested in pronunciation systems, concerned about what your learners learn and concerned about your own development as a teacher
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