WEAK AND STRONG FORMS-EXCERCISE

WEAK AND STRONG FORMS

Some very common English words can be pronounced in two different ways. These are called weak and strong forms of the same word. Almost all the words which have these two forms of pronunciation are in a category called F __ __ __ __ __ __ __ WORDS. These are words which do not have a dictionary meaning. (Those words are called L __ __ __ __ __ __ WORDS).

F __ __ __ __ __ __ __ WORDS are C __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (and, but, as, that ),

A __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (the, a, an ), P __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (he, she, you, we, you, us, them ),

P __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ (to, at, from), and some A __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ VERBS (have, has, does,) and M __ __ __ __ VERBS (must, should, could). One example of a function word with two forms of pronuncation is that. The ____________________ FORM of the word is /đćt/. The _________________ FORM is /ðət/.

Many Czech learners of English usually use only the strong forms when speaking. The weak form however is much more usual. This mistake in pronunciation does not affect the message. It is more serious, for example, to use Czech voicing patterns in English. In Czech all final consonants are V __ __ __ __ __ __ __ __ . However, English final consonants can be either voiced or voiceless. This can affect the meaning of the word. Look at the phonemic transcription of this __ __ __ __ __ __ __ PAIR“I hurt my /ni:z/“. “I hurt my /ni:s/“. What are these two words?

Although using only strong forms - instead of weak forms - does not lead to any misunderstandings, there are two good reasons why using weak forms correctly is important.

1.Although a speaker of English can understand strong forms, it sounds very unnatural and foreign if someone uses only strong forms. It can sound rather like a robot speaking, where one word is artificially attached to the next to make a long string composed of individual words.

2.Learners of English - particularly those who are not aware that there are two forms of words - may have difficulty understanding native speakers of English. All native speakers use weak forms all the time in connected speech. In rapid informal speech a) there reduction in the length of sounds, b) vowels or consonants may disappear altogether. Leaving out a sound or sounds in speech is called E __ __ __ __ __ __ . For example the weak form of in “a cup of tea“ can be pronounced:

/ə kʌp əv ti:/ or /ə kʌp v ti:/ or /ə kʌp ə ti:/

Now practise the dialogue below between two students. Concentrate particularly on the weak forms. You may not find them as easy to say. Weak forms are unstressed (= shorter, not as loud). Strong forms are stressed (= louder, longer). Differentiate very clearly between the two forms.

Student A Student B

Have you learned all the phonemic symbols of English? Yes, I have.

Must I keep practising them? Yes, you must.

Were you paying attention last week? Yes, I was.

Do you always do your homework? Yes, I do.

Could I work even harder? Yes, you could.