Unit 2. London.

Learn and practice:

Scientific and publicistic phonostyles.

Revise:

Stylistic use of intonation. Informational and declamatory phonostyles.

1. Listen to part of a lecture in a philosophy class. What phonostyle is it in? What prosodic peculiarities has it? Lay stress-tone marks on the second part of the text and learn the whole text by heart.

Ok, another ancient Greek philosopher we need to discuss is Aristotle, Aristotle’s ethical theory. What Aristotle’s ethical theory is all about is this: he’s trying to show you how to be happy, what true happiness is. Now, why is he interested in human happiness? It’s not just because it’s something that all people want or aim for, it’s more than that. But to get there we need to first make a very important distinction. Let me introduce a couple of technical terms: extrinsic value and intrinsic value. To understand Aristotle’s interest in happiness you need to understand this distinction. Some things we aim for and value not for themselves but for what they bring about in addition to themselves. If I value something as a means to something else then it has what we will call extrinsic value. Other things we desire and hold to be valuable for themselves alone. If we value something not as a means to something else but for its own sake, let us say that it has intrinsic value.

Exercise. There may be people who value exercise for itself, but I don’t. I value exercise because if I exercise I tend to stay healthier than I would if I didn’t. So, I desire to engage in exercise, and I value exercise extrinsically, not for its own sake, but as a means to something beyond it: it brings me good health.

Health. Why do I value good health? Well, here it gets a little more complicated for me. Erm, health is important for me because I can’t do other things I want to do: play music, teach philosophy, if I’m ill. So health is important to me, has value to me as a means to a productive life. But health is also important to me because I just kind of like to be healthy. It feels good. It’s pleasant to be healthy, unpleasant not to be. So to some degree I value health both for itself and as a means to something else: productivity. It’s got extrinsic and intrinsic value for me.

2. Listen to a conversation between a student and a professor. What phonostyle is it in? Lay stress-tone marks on the dialogue and learn it by heart.

Student Prof. Thompson Student Prof. Thompson Student Prof. Thompson Student Prof. Thompson Student Prof. Thompson Student Prof. Thompson

Excuse me, professor Thompson. I know your office hours are tomorrow, but I was wondering if you had a few minutes free now to discuss something. Sure, John. What did you want to talk about? Well, I have some quick questions about how to write up the research project I did this semester about climate variations. Oh, yes. You were looking at variations in climate in the grand city area, right? How far along have we gotten? I’ve got all my data, so I’m starting to summarize it now, preparing graphs and stuff. But I’m just… I’m looking at it and I’m afraid that it’s not enough. But I’m not sure what else to put in the report. I hear the same thing from every student. You know, you have to remember now that you’re the expert on what you’ve done. So think about what you’d need to include if you were good to explain your research project to someone with general or casual knowledge about the subject, like… Like your parents. That’s usually my rule of thumb: would my parents understand this? Ok, I get it. I hope you can recognize by my saying that how much you do know about the subject. Right, I understand. I was wondering if I should also include the notes from the research journal you suggested I keep. Yes, definitely. You should use them to indicate what your evolution in thought was through time. So, just set up, you know, what was the purpose of what you were doing to try to understand the climate variability of this area and what you did, and what your approach was. Ok, so, for example, I studied meteorological records. I looked at climate charts, I used different methods for analyzing the data, like certain statistical tests and then I discussed the results. Is that what you mean? Yes, that’s right. You should include all of that. The statistical tests are especially important. And also be sure you’ll include a good reference section where all your published and unpublished data came from, ‘cause you have a lot of unpublished climate data.

3. Write part of a lecture on some subject (biology, psychology, astronomy, etc.) in up to 250 words. Learn it and present it in front of your group using all the peculiarities of the scientific phonostyle.

4. Listen to the following text about London. What phonstyle is it in? What makes it different from the academic style? Lay stress-tone marks on the second part of the text. Practice reading the text.

We’re now in Oxford Circus, half-way along Oxford Street, one of the busiest streets in the West End of London, and that street over there is Regent Street, famous all over the world for its splendid shops. Near one of the street-corners you can see entrance to the subway leading to the Underground Railway, or ‘Tube”, as we call it.

On both sides of the street there are shops, banks and restaurants. In the roadway there’s a constant stream of cars, taxis, buses and lorries. In the some parts of London there trolley- buses and trams as well. The noise is deafening, but one soon gets used to it. The pavements are crowded with people, and it’s dangerous to attempt to cross the road until the traffic is stopped either by a policeman on point duty or by the red traffic lights. In my case, before crossing the road, take care to look to your right, and when you reach the middle of the road, look to your left.

At night, the streets are lit by electricity, or in some districts, by gas. You can see the lamp- posts and standards on the pavements, and on the “islands” in the middle of the road. The main streets are flooded with light from the brilliant shop- windows and the illuminated sings and advertisements, so that after dark everything looks as bright as in broad daylight.

5. Listen to the following extract of a speech. What are its prosodic peculiarities? Lay stress-tone marks on the second part of the speech and learn all of it by heart.

World's Greatest Speeches

INAUGURAL ADDRESS

delivered by John F. Kennedy, on January 20, 1961

We observe today not a victory of party but a celebration of freedom, symbolizing an end as well as a beginning, signifying renewal as well as change. For I have sworn before you and Almighty God the same solemn oath our forebears prescribed nearly a century and three-quarters ago.

The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary belief for which our forebears fought is still at issue around the globe, the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state but from the hand of God.

We dare not forget today that we are the heirs of that first revolution. Let the word go forth from this time and place, to friend and foe alike, that the torch has been passed to a new generation of Americans, born in this century, tempered by war, disciplined by a hard and bitter peace, proud of our ancient heritage, and unwilling to witness or permit the slow undoing of these human rights to which this nation has always been committed, and to which we are committed today at home and around the world.

Let every nation know, whether it wishes us well or ill, that we shall pay any price, bear any burden, meet any hardship, support any friend, oppose any foe to assure the survival and the success of liberty.

This much we pledge -- and more.

To those old allies whose cultural and spiritual origins we share, we pledge the loyalty of faithful friends. United, there is little we cannot do in a host of co-operative ventures. Divided, there is little we can do, for we dare not meet a powerful challenge at odds and split asunder.

6. Listen to part of a speech. What are its prosodic peculiarities? Lay stress-tone marks on the second part of it and learn the extract by heart.

World's Greatest Speeches

ABDICATION OF THE MONARCHY

delivered by King Edward VIII, on December 11, 1936

At long last I am able to say a few words of my own. I have never wanted to withhold anything, but until now it has not been constitutionally possible for me to speak.

A few hours ago I discharged my last duty as King and Emperor, and now that I have been succeeded by my brother, the Duke of York, my first words must be to declare my allegiance to him. This I do with all my heart.

You all know the reasons which have impelled me to renounce the throne. But I want you to understand that in making up my mind I did not forget the country or the empire, which, as Prince of Wales and lately as King, I have for twenty-five years tried to serve.

But you must believe me when I tell you that I have found it impossible to carry the heavy burden of responsibility and to discharge my duties as King as I would wish to do without the help and support of the woman I love.

And I want you to know that the decision I have made has been mine and mine alone. This was a thing I had to judge entirely for myself. The other person most nearly concerned has tried up to the last to persuade me to take a different course.

I have made this, the most serious decision of my life, only upon the single thought of what would, in the end, be best for all.

This decision has been made less difficult to me by the sure knowledge that my brother, with his long training in the public affairs of this country and with his fine qualities, will be able to take my place forthwith without interruption or injury to the life and progress of the empire. And he has one matchless blessing, enjoyed by so many of you, and not bestowed on me -- a happy home with his wife and children.

During these hard days I have been comforted by her Majesty my mother and by my family. The ministers of the crown, and in particular, Mr. Baldwin, the Prime Minister, have always treated me with full consideration. There has never been any constitutional difference between me and them, and between me and Parliament. Bred in the constitutional tradition by my father, I should never have allowed any such issue to arise.

Ever since I was Prince of Wales, and later on when I occupied the throne, I have been treated with the greatest kindness by all classes of the people wherever I have lived or journeyed throughout the empire. For that I am very grateful.

I now quit altogether public affairs and I lay down my burden. It may be some time before I return to my native land, but I shall always follow the fortunes of the British race and empire with profound interest, and if at any time in the future I can be found of service to his Majesty in a private station, I shall not fail.

And now, we all have a new King. I wish him and you, his people, happiness and prosperity with all my heart. God bless you all! God save the King!

7. Make up a speech on one of the suggested topics and present it in front of your groupmates. Use kinesics and all the prosodic means typical of the publicistic phonostyle. You should sound persuasive in giving your arguments. If possible, use humour and idiomatic expressions.