TONICITY: WHERE DOES THE NUCLEUS GO

EXERCISESI. Place the nucleus.1. Where do you come from?

Just outside Moscow.

The south of Japan.

A suburb in Toronto.

2. What will you have to drink?

A cup of coffee.

A pint of bitter.

Some lemonade.

3. Whats wrong with Martha?

Shes suffering from asthma.

4. How was the circus?

It was pretty amazing.

5. Thanks for your help.

Have a nice day!

6. Whats that?

My new DVD.

7. Who does she work for?

B and Q.8. Wheres Selfridges?

In Oxford Street.9. Id like to borrow some books.

Ask for the application form.

10. Where shall we have our tea?In the living room.

11. Whats the problem?

We havent got an ironing board.12. She wants a mink coat.

13. Go to Gordon Square.14. I want a cinnamon Danish.

15. Whats her name?

Alice Peters.

16. Whats the address?

23 Chancery Lane.

17. What shall I do with this rag?Wipe the floor with it.

18. Can I help at all?

You could warm up the dinner plates for me.19. Care for some ham and eggs?Id rather have bacon and eggs.20. Was that French and Spanish?No, German and Spanish.

21. Is my order ready?

Only half of your orders ready.

22. Look! A red shirt!

Its an orange shirt.

23. How dyou feel about smoking?I cant stand smoking.

24. May I introduce ( Catherine Hughes ( and her husband Jim Hughes.25. The collision ( involved a Ford saloon ( and a Renault saloon.

26. The children responsible ( were Fiona Green | and Tina Green.

27. At this point ( Kings Road ( becomes New Kings Road.

28. I can recognize the front row, ( but whos in the back row?

29. I dont like skate and chips. ( I like plaice and chips.

30. My sons a lawyer, ( and I want my daughter to be a lawyer, ( too.II. Explain the difference in intonational meaning in the following pairs or triplets. Think of appropriate contexts in which you might use each.

1. She was talking to me.She was talking to me.

2. Youd better ask him.

Youd better ask him.

Youd better ask him.

3. Are you going to follow us?Are you going to follow us?Are you going to follow us?

4. I dont like her.

I dont like her.

I dont like her.

III. Divide in IPs, if necessary and locate the N. The lexical stress pattern is likely to be overridden.

1. Five nines are fiftyfive.

No, | theyre fortyfive.2. Its in Leicester Square.

No, | its in Russell Square.

3. Shes at Kings College.

Not Kings College, | Birkbeck College.

4. Weve done some psycholinguistics.

But we havent done any sociolinguistics.

5. Hes a psychotherapist.

No, | a physiotherapist.

IV. Vary the tonicity in the following sentences. Say under what circumstances each nucleus placement may be appropriate, as the focus changes.

1. She was trying to lose weight.2. Try to keep singing quietly.3. Do you want to order the risotto?

V. Use the same words, but with different focus (manifested as different tonicity), in answering the various questions.The students want to dance on Saturday night.Which night do the students want to dance?

What do the students want to do on Saturday night?

Who wants to dance on Saturday night?

Whats the latest news?

When on Saturday do the students want to dance?

VI. Divide this dialogue into IPs and locate the nuclei.

A: Ive just bought some new shoes.

B: Have you?

A: Yes, and Anna says | she thinks theyre very smart.

B: Oh, does she?

A: Look, Im wearing them now. | What do you think?

B: I dont think Id have chosen them myself.

A: Oh, wouldnt you?

B: Sorry, no.

VII. Divide this dialogue into IPs and locate the nuclei.

Welcome to Bellamys Restaurant, Ladies and Gentlemen! | Im your waiter this evening, | and Id like to go through the menu with you. | The first course | offers a wide choice of starters. | Id particularly recommend the angels on horseback, | the pumpkin soup | or the celery soup. | For the main course | we have steak, lamb or fish, | or also a vegetarian alternative. | I believe the rump steak | is particularly good tonight.