The Sound & Style of American English: Drill Manual

44 Pages·2016·1.27 MB·English

by  Stern David Alan.

DRILL MANUAL

Practice Materials for

The Third Edition of

The SOUND & STYLE of
AMERICAN ENGLISH

An Audio Course Teaching the

Standard American Accent

to Speakers of All Other First Languages

by

DAVID ALAN STERN, Ph.D.

Copyright © 1987, 1992, 2006 by DAS, Inc.
No part of this manual or accompanying CDs may be reproduced in any
form, electronic or mechanical, without written permission
from Dialect Accent Specialists, Inc.
HOW TO USE THESE CDs

DON'T RUSH! There are approximately eight hours of lessons on these CDs. But, if you
follow the instructions carefully and do the practicing properly, it will take you several weeks to
work through all of those lessons effectively. Be sure you can do all of the exercises in each
lesson very easily before moving on.
Follow the directions in the recorded lessons very closely. They will tell you when and how to
practice the inflection and muscularity drills, word lists, phrases, and sentences that are printed
here in this drill manual. Extra word, phrase, and sentence drills, which are not recorded on the
CDs, are printed in ITALICS.

DISK ONE: AMERICAN INTONATION & SPEECH RHYTHM

LESSON 1: “JUMP UP & STEP DOWN” INTONATION

In each unit, jump pitch on an early, important word; step down on each syllable that follows,
and make the largest drop on the last word or idea in the unit (SHOWN IN ITALICS).

(Track 3)

VE-
RY
HAP-
PY
I'M TO

MEET
YOU.

I'M VERY HAPPY TO MEET YOU.

I'LL CALL HIM ON THE TELEPHONE.

I'M GOING OUT OF TOWN NEXT WEEK.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.

I'LL GET BACK TO THE OFFICE ON SATURDAY.

THANK YOU FOR CALLING.

2
LESSON 2: AVOIDING MISTAKES WITH "JUMP UP & STEP DOWN"

Don’t confuse "louder" with "higher." Avoid upward glides, elongating
or "punching" the jumped word and delaying the downward pitch
steps. Don’t return to a monotone on multi-syllabic words.

(Tracks 4-8)
I'M GOING OUT OF TOWN NEXT WEEK

I REALLY CAN'T ACCEPT YOUR OFFER.

I'D LIKE TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT.

THE GOVERNMENT BUREAUCRACY IS AWFUL.

MY REAL ESTATE AGENT

A BOX OF BREAKFAST CEREAL

A STRONG CUP OF BLACK COFFEE

A REALLY WONDERFUL MANAGER.

After this group of phrases, you’ll then practice some
sentences from Lessons 1 & 2 for a second time.

LESSON 3: MAKING "JUMP UP & STEP DOWN" FEEL REAL

Discover or reveal words or ideas on the pitch jumps.
Use the downward steps to help you connect with listeners.

(Tracks 10-11)
I'M VERY HAPPY TO MEET YOU.

IT WAS TOO HOT THIS SUMMER.

IT'S REALLY COLD OUT THERE.

I'M SO TIRED TODAY.

THOSE KIDS SURE GREW UP FAST.

Now apply the "feel real" technique to the earlier drills printed above for
Lessons 1 & 2. Continue discovering or revealing on high note
and connecting idea to the listener(s) on downward steps.

LESSON 4: KNOWING WHERE TO MAKE PITCH JUMPS

Avoid pitch jumps on certain "little words," which are in (parentheses)
in the next three sections. First, avoid jumping on pronouns . . .

(Track 12)
(I) CAN'T STAND IT. (SHE) ALWAYS DOES THAT.

(HE) NEVER GETS HIS WAY. (IT) REALLY DOESN'T MATTER.

. . . unless there is a special reason for emphasizing pronouns, as in:

I CAN'T STAND IT, ALTHOUGH HE LOVES IT.
3
Second, avoid jumping on "to" and other prepositions . . .

(Track 13)
WE WERE GOING (TO) THE STORE.

THEY FLEW (FROM) CHICAGO (TO) NEW YORK.

WE MET (AT) THE CHURCH SERVICE.

. . . unless there is a special reason for stressing "little words," as in:

WE WERE GOING TO THE STORE, NOT FROM THE STORE.

Also, avoid jumping on "helping" or "auxiliary" verbs . . .

(Track 14)
I (AM) GOING AWAY FOR A WEEK.

I (WOULD) LIKE A CUP OF COFFEE.

I (HAVE BEEN) TRAVELING ALL DAY.

THE CLASS (HAD) STARTED TO GET BORING.

. . . unless there is a special reason for emphasizing a "helping" verb, as in:

I AM GOING AWAY (EVEN THOUGH YOU SAID, "NO").

HE WAS WAITING FOR ME (EVEN THOUGH I DIDN'T EXPECT IT).

Instead, discover pitch jumps on certain categories of words.

First, if there is an adverb early in the thought unit, try jumping the pitch on it.

(Track 15)
A VERY GOOD DINNER HE HARDLY EVER FINISHES ON TIME.

IT'S TOO COLD IN HERE. HE'S REALLY SORRY ABOUT THAT.

Make up your own sentence for pitch jumps on these "Frequently Used Adverbs."

SOMETIMES ALWAYS NEVER HARDLY VERY TOO SELDOM

Second, if there are no adverbs, try jumping on an early adjective.

(Track 16)
THE OTHER SIDE OF THE HILL THE RED ROSE BUSHES

THE OLD MAN'S PET DOG THE BIG BLUE PICK-UP TRUCK

OUR GRAND OLD FARM-HOUSE THE SLIMY, DISGUSTING, RED BUG

4
Make up your own sentence for pitch jumps on these "Frequently Used Adjectives.”

LARGE SMALL BEAUTIFUL CHEAP ANGRY SMART WARM

Third, try jumping pitch on nouns or main verbs. Read each sentence twice.
The first time, jump on the noun; the second time jump on the verb.

(Track 17)
THE CHILDREN RAN HOME FROM SCHOOL.

THE FACTORY IS OPENING FOR BUSINESS.

MY PARTNER TRIED TO FIND A NEW OFFICE.

THE CASTLE WAS SHINING IN THE SUNLIGHT.

HER HUSBAND WAS DRYING THE DISHES.

THE ACTOR WAS LEARNING HIS PART.

Make up your own sentence for alternating between jumps
on nouns and verbs using these pairs of words.

FATHER / ASKED TEACHER / LECTURED CHILDREN / PLAY

PHONE / RANG MUSICIANS / PRACTICED BOOKS / FELL

TEACHER / LECTURED THEATRE / OPENED PEASANTS / SUFFERED

LESSON 5: USING MORE THAN ONE JUMP IN LONGER SENTENCES

Make two (or more) pitch jumps in each of the following sentences.

I(Track 18)
I'M STAYING HOME TODAY BECAUSE MY BABY IS SICK.

OUR CLASS SCHEDULE IS FLEXIBLE THIS AFTERNOON.

THE OFFICE ON THE THIRD FLOOR IS MUCH TOO BIG.

OUR TRIP TO HAWAII LASTED FOR TWO WEEKS.

In the following sentences, go to noticeably different notes on each of the pitch jumps.

(Track 19)
I NEVER KNEW THAT THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE WAS SO DIFFICULT.

THEY ALWAYS ARRIVED AT TEN-THIRTY, IN THE MIDDLE OF THE LECTURE.

HE NEEDED TECHNICAL EQUIPMENT FROM THE ELECTRONICS STORE FOR THE
TV REPAIRS.

IF I HAVE TO WORK LATE; GO HOME AND START DINNER WITHOUT ME.

5
EATING LUNCH AT THE NEW RESTAURANT DOWN THE STREET IS VERY EXPENSIVE.

THE PRINTER BROKE DOWN JUST AFTER SHE LOADED IT WIH PAPER.

LIFE BEGINS ON THE OPENING DAY OF BASEBALL SEASON.

In the next sentence, follow the recording as you work your way up
to speaking it with four "jump up/step down" segments.

I'LL NEVER BE HOME ON TIME IF I KEEP GETTING TELEPHONE CALLS.

Make up sentences, each with two or three pitch jumps, using the following sets of words.

SEARCHED / FAVORATE VERY / RAN SAT / COLD
RADIO / LOUD / COVERING TRY / SMALL / HOLD
ALWAYS / FIND / BEGINNING EVERY / FALL / HIGH

LESSON 6: "JUMP UP & STEP DOWN" IN QUESTIONS

In the questions, stop the downward pitch steps just before the last idea.

(Track 20)
I KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING TONIGHT.

DO YOU KNOW WHAT WE'RE DOING TONIGHT?

WE'RE LEAVING TOWN NEXT WEEK.

ARE WE LEAVING TOWN NEXT WEEK?

WHERE DOES YOUR WIFE WORK?

ARE YOU READY FOR THE MEETING?

WHAT TIME IS IT?

HOW ARE YOU TODAY?

DID THEY FINISH THE WORK?

WAS THE TRIP FUN FOR THE CHILDREN?

IS THE MEETING SCHEDULED FOR MONDAY?

Now apply the modified "jump up/step down" technique to questions that you make up.
Here are some "opening words" that frequently appear at the beginnings of questions.

WHERE DID . . . WHAT IS . . . WHERE ARE . . . WHICH WAY . . .

MAY I . . . WHO DID . . . HOW ARE . . . ARE YOU . . .

CAN THEY . . . WHERE WERE . . . IS THERE . . . WERE WE . . .

6
PRACTICING IN THE REAL WORLD
Session One

In the following passage, suggested pitch jumps are underlined. Don’t
forget to begin stepping down between the syllables of the jumped word.

GOOD MORNING. MY NAME IS DAVID ALAN STERN (use your own
name), AND I CAME TO THIS COUNTRY FROM MYOLDCOUNTRIA
ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO. I WAS RAISED IN THE CITY OF
MYOLDHOMETOWN, IN THE SOUTHERN PART OF THAT COUNTRY.
IT'S A RURAL AREA THAT HAS A VERY WARM AND RAINY CLIMATE.
RIGHT NOW, I AM TRYING TO PERFECT MY ENGLISH, BUT I AM ALSO
STUDYING ECCONOMICS. WHEN I FINISH MY MBA DEGREE, I WANT
TO RETURN TO MYOLDCOUNTRIA AND ENTER POLITICS. I HOPE TO
BECOME AN ECONOMIC ADVISOR TO THE PRESIDENT VERY
QUICKLY. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR INTEREST. I LOOK
FORWARD NOW TO HEARING ABOUT ALL OF YOU.

7
#1: THE CORRECT STARTING POSITION (Lesson 8)
Tongue is low in the mouth and slightly concave.
Indentation should be this size or smaller.

#2: THE WRONG STARTING POSITION (Lesson 8)
Mid-tongue is arching up. It should be
low and slightly concave as shown in #1.
8
#3: THE WRONG STARTING POSITION (Lesson 8)
Tongue is tense and too concave. It should
be relaxed and slightly concave as in #1.

#4: PRESSING THE TONGUE DOWN (Lesson 9)
When pressing on the mid-tongue, don't go any
farther back than indicated in this picture.
9
DISK TWO: AMERICAN SPEECH MUSCULARITY & RESONANCE

LESSON 7:
MOVING FROM FRONT-MOUTH TO MID-TONGUE MUSCULARITY

CONSONANT PLUS AH EXERCISES

(Track 3)
AH-M AH-V AH-B AH-Z AH-G M-AH B-AH G-AH Z-AH W-AH

CONSONANT PLUS AHEE EXERCISES

(Tracks 4-5)
AHEE-M AHEE-V AHEE-B AHEE-Z AHEE-G

M-AHEE B-AHEE G-AHEE Z-AHEE W-AHEE

LESSON 8: LOWERING THE POSITION OF YOUR TONGUE
*You should also review this lesson before beginning the vowel-pronunciations on Disk 3.*

(Tracks 8-9)
While doing the next few lessons, use a mirror to compare the position of your
tongue with that of the images in the photographs on Pages 8 and 9.

Picture #1 shows you the correct "Starting Position" for the tongue exercises in this lesson.

Pictures #2 and #3 show you the two most common wrong starting positions.

Picture #4 shows you where to press down on your tongue for
an exercise you’ll do later in the lesson.

LESSON 9: CREATING MOVEMENT IN THE MID-TONGUE

(Track 10)
The exercises in this lesson teach you to begin sounds with a
slight downward movement of the mid-tongue.

LESSON 10: INCREASING MOVEMENT IN THE MID-TONGUE

(Tracks 11-13)
The exercises in this lesson teach you how to control speech
movements with muscles in your mid tongue.
10