Notes on English Rhythm Lecture

Introduction

• Host introduces the topic: Rhythm of English.
• Quiz to engage listeners:
  • Question 1: How many dogs do you have?
    • Correct answer: 3. I have two.
  • Question 2: I’ve been to Paris.
    • Correct answer: 1. I have two.
  • Question 3: Why do you learn English?
    • Correct answer: 2. I have two.

Key Concepts

Importance of Rhythm in English

• Rhythm helps convey meaning in spoken English.
• Two key elements of rhythm:
  1. Syllable stress
  2. Sentence stress

Syllable Stress

• Words with multiple syllables have stressed and unstressed vowels.
• Examples:
  • English (2 syllables) - Stress first vowel: English
  • Fortunate (3 syllables) - Stress first vowel: Fortunate
  • Certificate - Stress second vowel: Certificate

Unstressed Vowels: Schwa Sound

• Unstressed vowels are pronounced quickly and silently, often represented by the schwa (ə).
• Examples:
  • Police - First vowel is unstressed: police
  • Children - First vowel is stressed: children
  • Americano - First vowel unstressed: americano

Practice Exercises

• Exercises to practice stress and rhythm:
  • Sentence: "He probably doesn’t even remember what you said."
    • Learn linking sounds:
      • "doesn’t even" not "doesn’t huh even"
      • "what you" not "what uh you"
    • Apply stress rules to:
      • Probably: Stress first vowel (prob-), second vowel is schwa.
      • Even: Stress first vowel.
      • Remember: Stress second vowel.

Rhythm Visualization

• Rhythm can be visualized as a wave.
• It may be difficult initially but improves with practice.

Further Practice

• Repeat after the host:
  • "He probably doesn’t even remember what you said."
• Another example: "If you keep thinking negatively about exercise, you’re never going to enjoy it."
  • Stress and link sounds:
    • Thinking: Stress first vowel.
    • Negatively: Stress first vowel, second vowel is schwa.
    • About: First vowel is schwa, second vowel stressed.
    • Exercise: First vowel stressed, second vowel is schwa.

Future Lectures

• First three months focus on English way of thinking and linking sounds.
• Rhythm rules to be added later with real English movie examples.
• Simplification of rhythm rule explanation to avoid complications from dot symbols.

Conclusion

• Thank you for participating.
• Looking forward to seeing everyone in future lectures.