美式英语发音规则概要

（在单词中，音调升至重音音节的位置，然后开始下降，或者继续升高。这种音调的变化分为阶音型和滑音型，如下例：）
STEP INFLECTION-Pitch steps from the stressed syllable onto an unstressed syllable. Listen to example spoken with a falling inflection.
（滑音型变化—当单词仅由一个音节构成时，或单词词尾为重音时，单词发音为滑音型音调变化。如下列各词以降调发音为：）
nowagreedguaranteed
Now listen to the same words with a rising inflection.（再看看如何以升调读以上同样的音调。）
nowagreedguaranteed
Repeat the following words using a falling inflection：（试用降调跟读下列各词：）
money correctexpensiveanimal
never enoughforevercustomer
open todaytomorrowmanager
application responsibility qualification
（在短语或句子当中，通常只有部分词语为重读。这些词多为实词，因为它们包含了所传信息的内容。）
Content wordsare nouns, verbs, adjectives, and adverbs-words that are normally not stressed are classified asfunction words.
（实词为名词、动词、形容词和副词。那些非重读的词被归为虚词。）
Function wordsserve more to provide the grammar structure that connects content words into phrases and sentences. Function words include articles, conjunctions, pronouns, and prepositions.
GLIDING INFLECTION-Pitch gliders on the syllable with primary stress when the word consists of one syllable, or when that syllable ends a word. Listen to examples with falling inflection：
obligation
demonstration
Repeat the following using a rising inflection：（试用升调跟读下列各词：）
never todayforever
obligation responsibility qualification
BEYOND THE WORD LEVEL（短语和句子的发音）
（阶音型变化—音调由重音转为非重音。如以下列举的单词均以降调发音。）
simple amazingaccurate impossible
Now listen to the same words spoken with rising inflection.（再看看如何以升调来读以上几个单词。）
simple amazingaccurate impossible
PRIMARY STRESS AND FINAL INFLECTION（重音和句尾语调变化）
In phrases and sentences, primary stress is normally placed on the last content word, and that is where final inflection occurs. In the following sets of sentences, the first ends with a content word, and the second ends with one or more function words. Listen to an example：
第一章美式英语发音规则概要
As a result of reduction made to stressed syllables, most vowels in these syllables are pronounced as the schwa, //, as in, condition oravailable. This vowel is represented by a symbol that looks like an upside-downe. This is a symbol of the International Phonetic Alphabet（IPA）. The schwa is the shortest and most simple sound in English speech, and it is the most frequently used sound. Other vowels used often in unstressed syllables are the vowel //, as in citizen, and // an in other.
In phrases or in sentences, only certain words are normally given stress. These are the words classified as content words, because they contain most of the information in a message.
（由此可见，实词往往包含一定的信息内容。再听另一例：）
（实词）（虚词）
WHEREareALLthePEOple?WERE ALL PEOPLEare, the
Are function words used in your native language? If they are not, you may have difficulty applying them in your English speech. You may also have difficulty hearing some function words as they are spoken in English, because they are normally reduced, and are thereby spoken quickly.
（在你的母语中存在虚词吗？如果没有的话，那你在英语中运用虚词也许会有一点困难。另外，在听的过程中，由于这些虚词往往被弱读，且读得快，所以很难被听出来。）
THE PURPOSE OF FALLING AND RISING INFLECTION（降调和升调的作用）
Final inflection, which is the pitch change at the end of an utterance, has underlying meaning. Generally, in connected speech a fall in pitch indicates thatபைடு நூலகம்the speaker has finished a thought, while a rise in pitch indicates that the speaker intends to continue on the thought. Listen to examples：
（在短语和句子中，重音通常落在最后一个实词上，而且句尾语调变化也落在该词上。在下面各组例句中，第一个句子以实词结尾，第二句则以一个或几个虚词结尾。例如：）
Grammatical Forms of Final Words
（句尾单词的词性）
What did youthink?VERB（动词）
What did youthinkof it?Preposition, Pronoun（介词、代词）
（Wh-疑问句（特殊疑问句）是以特殊疑问句who, what, when等开头的问句，通常读成降调，如：）
Who called? What’s new?
Repeat the following examples：（跟读以下例句：）
Who is that? What is it called?
When does it start? Where is it?
Question, are spoken with either a falling or rising inflection.（疑问句，既可以采用升调也可以采用降调。）
Wh-Questions, which are those that begin with question words, such aswho,whatorwhen, are normally spoken with a falling inflection, as in：
（Yes/No疑问句（一般疑问句）是指那些所作回答为“是”或“否”的问句，通常读成升调，如：）
Repeat the following：（跟读以下各句：）
Are you ready? Should I call?
Will you be there? Would that be okay?
Do you think so? Did you check you Email?
………………………………………………………………………………………………………..
At the Word Level（词的发音）
Within a word, pitch rises to its highest level on the syllable with primary stress. From there it falls, or rises more. This inflection in pitch is made as a step, or as a glide. Following are examples：
Why not? Which way?
How come? How did you do that?
Yes/No Questions, which are those that request ayesor anoresponse, are normally spoken with a rising inflection. Listen：
（虚词的作用是按照语法结构规则将各个实词组成短语或句子。虚词包括冠词、连词、代词和介词。）
Listen to the following sentence：（听以下例句：）
（实词）（虚词）
TheTIMEisNOW.TIME NOWthe, is
As you can see, content words can carry the meaning in a message. Listen to another example：
（由于在重音发音过程中一些音节的发音被减弱，许多元音在发音时变成了中元音，如condition和available两个单词中的//音。//音是国际音标（IPA）中的一个，很像倒过来写的字母e。中元音是英语中最短最简单的一个音，但也是最常见的一个音。另外，还有一些非重读音节中的元音，如citizen中的//音，及其他词中的//音。）
（句尾语音变化，即一句话结束时的音调变化，包含着一定的意义。一般来说，如果句尾为降调时，意味着说话者已表达完了一个思想内容。如果句尾读出升调，那就意味着说话者还将就此内容发表观点，让我们看看以下例句：）
I know what you mean.（降调）
I know what you mean, but I don’t agree.（升调）