Week 13: Basic Emphasis Pattern (4)

Basic Emphasis Pattern: Structure Words, Part 3

Reducing structure words even more: The reduced can and the silent H

The reduced can

The word “can” can also be reduced to /kʰʌ:n/. The vowel in can is reduced to schwa, but this does not happen in the word can’t, in which it is pronounced as a diagraph: /kʰænt/.

Examples:

Ø John can write very well.

/dʒa:n kʰʌ:n rayt ’vɛrɪ wɛ:ǝl/

Ø John can’t write very well.

/ dʒa:n kʰænt rayt ’vʌrɪ wɛ:ǝl /

Take turns with a partner reading the following sentences. Student 1 reads either (a) or (b). Student 2 answers.

STUDENT 1	STUDENT 2
1. a. John can write very well. b. John can’t write very well.	a. Yes, I agree. b. That’s unfortunate.
2. a. Can you go tonight? b. Can’t you go tonight?	a. Yes. I finished my work. b. Unfortunately, no.
3. a. The audience can hear the speaker. b. The audience can’t hear the speaker.	a. That’s good. b. That’s terrible!
4. a. We can always eat before class. b. We can’t always eat before class.	a. Yes, I prefer that. b. No, sometimes not.
5. a. Did you say they can come? b. Did you say they can’t come?	a. Yes, it’s possible. b. It’s impossible.
6. a. The Johnsons can afford the trip. b. The Johnsons can’t afford the trip.	a. Oh, good! b. That’s too bad.

The silent H

Pronouns are usually reduced so much that words like he, him, her, hers, his, and them lose the beginning /h/-sound. (In the case of them the /ϴ/-sound is also dropped.)

This rule only applies to these words in any position within the sentences except at the beginning of them.

Examples

Written from	Slow, full	Fast, reduced
Is he?	/ɪ:z hiy/	/’ɪ:ziy/
Give her	/gɪ:v hʌr/	/’gɪ:vǝr/
Would he?	/wʊ:d hiy/	/’wʊ:ɾiy/
Sell them.	/sɛ:ǝl ðɛ:m/	/’sɛ:ǝlɛ:m/

As you may have noticed with these examples, linking is especially important with the silent H.

Take turns with a partner reading the following sentences. Student 1 reads either (a) or (b). Student 2 answers.

Student 1	Student 2
1. a. Did he go? b. Did she go?	a. No, he didn’t. b. No, she didn’t.
2. a. Is her work good? b. Is his work good?	a. Yes, she does well. b. Yes, he does well.
3. a. Give him a message. b. Give her a message.	a. He isn’t here. b. She isn’t here.
4. a. Did you take her pen? b. Did you take your pen?	a. No, it’s mine. b. No, I left it.
5. a. Is this his apartment? b. Is this Sue’s apartment?	a. He lives across the street. b. She lives across the street.
6. a. Is he busy? b. Is she busy?	a. No, he isn’t. b. No, she isn’t.
7. a. Can he read? b. Can she read?	a. Yes, quite well. b. Unfortunately, no.

Linking over the silent H

Practice the following dialogue.

Stage Manager	Where’s our singer?
Assistant	I think he’s practicing, sir.
Stage Manager	But we need him on state now!
Assistant	Well, you know how nervous he gets.
Stage Manager	Did you tell him the concert’s about to start?
Assistant	It sounds like he’s practicing just as fast as he can.

Read the following limerick.

A Train Ride

A singer once went to Vancouver,

Thinking the move would improve her.

But the trip was so long,

And her voice grew son long,

At Toronto they had to remove her.

HERE!