Chapter Strong and Weak Forms This section is concerned with one of the most remarkable features of English pronunci Many common English words have two or more pronunciations in speech, depending on positions in a sentence----a strong form and one or more weak forms These words include form words and the following pronouns personal, possessive, relative and the indefinite pronoun"some", denoting indefinite quantity The strong form of a word is used when the word is said in isolation, or in connected speech which the word should be stressed: it is also used in certain cases where the word is unstressed ositions. The weak form or forms of a word are used only in unstressed positions A weak form of a word is generally distinguished from a strong form (1).by the difference in vowel-sounds, (2). by the absence of a sound( vowel or consonant) (3).by the difference of in the length of a vowel /a:/ them /oam/ /aend/ an/ /n/ /aem /bi: n/ /bin/ were Very often the weak form has /a/ in it, whereas the strong form contains some other vowel e.g. was /woz/ for/fs: / them/dem/, to/tu: / but"It was too difficult for them to read. /it waz'tl difikelt fa oam te 'ri: d/ A few words with /i in the strong form have a weak form with /1/; e.g. the /oi / but the other end”/Oi'Aoor'end The following list tells you how the weak forms are used Weak Examples Form 1. Conjunctions in and out /in 'aend ' aut/ black and white /'baelk an ' wait/ bread and butter /bred n 'bAta/ /az/ az/ as old as you /ez'ould az ju /bAt/ But why not /bat wai'n t/ /2:/ two or three days /tu: a Ari: deiz/ seven or eight /sevn ar eit/(before vowels) than /0an better than ever /'bete oan 'eve/ I admit that I did it. /ai ad'mit oat ai 'did it/ /i()/hi/ Did he win? /'did i: win/ him /im Give him two /'giv im tu I like his tie. /ai laik iz tai/ (in the middle of a sense group /h:/ /h//s Take her home. /teik he 'heum/ She opened her eyes /1: upend her 'aiz (before vowels) (At the beginning of word groups the strong forms of these pronouns should be used. /m:/ Could you tell me the time?Chapter 1 Strong and Weak Forms This section is concerned with one of the most remarkable features of English pronunciation. Many common English words have two or more pronunciations in speech, depending on their positions in a sentence----a strong form and one or more weak forms. These words include form words and the following pronouns: personal, possessive, relative and the indefinite pronoun “some”, denoting indefinite quantity. The strong form of a word is used when the word is said in isolation, or in connected speech in which the word should be stressed; it is also used in certain cases where the word is unstressed positions. The weak form or forms of a word are used only in unstressed positions. A weak form of a word is generally distinguished from a strong form (1).by the difference in vowel-sounds, (2).by the absence of a sound (vowel or consonant), (3).by the difference of in the length of a vowel. Examples: are /a:/ /ә/ them /ðem/ /ðәm/ and /ænd/ /әn/ /n/ am /æm/ /m/ been /bi:n/ /bin/ were /wә:/ /wә/ Very often the weak form has /ә/ in it, whereas the strong form contains some other vowel; e.g. was /wɔz/, for/fɔ:/, them/ðem/, to/tu:/, but “It was too difficult for them to read.” /it wәz 'tu: 'difikәlt fә ðәm tә 'ri:d/ A few words with /i:/ in the strong form have a weak form with /i/; e.g. the /ði:/, but “the other end” /ði 'Λðәr 'end/. The following list tells you how the weak forms are used. Word Strong Form Weak Form Examples 1.Conjunctions and as but or than that /ænd/ /æz/ /bΛt/ /ɔ:/ /ɔ:r/ /ðæn/ /ðæt/ /әn/ /n/ /әz/ /bәt/ /ә/ /әr/ /ðәn/ /ðәt/ in and out /in 'ænd 'aut/ black and white /'bælk әn 'wait/ bread and butter /'bred n 'bΛtә/ as old as you /әz 'әuld әz 'ju:/ But why not? /bәt 'wai 'n t/ two or three days /tu:ә θri: deiz/ seven or eight /sevn әr eit/ (before vowels) better than ever /'betә ðәn 'evә / I admit that I did it. /ai әd'mit ðәt ai 'did it/ 2.Pronouns he him his her me /hi:/ /him/ /hiz/ /hә:/ /hә:r/ /mi:/ /i(:)//hi/ /im/ /iz/ /hә/ /ә/ /hәr/ /mi/ Did he win? /'did i: 'win/ Give him two. /'giv im 'tu:/ I like his tie. /ai 'laik iz 'tai/ (in the middle of a sense group) Take her home. /'teik hә 'hәum/ She opened her eyes./ʃi: 'әupened her 'aiz / (before vowels) (At the beginning of word groups the strong forms of these pronouns should be used.) Could you tell me the time?