Practise first with the names Annabelle and Janet. Notice how the important words are strongly stressed - we say them LOUDer and slower. Listen and repeat.
Question: How do you shorten Annabelle and Janet?
Answer: Ann and Jan.
Listen to seven possible answers to the next question.
Notice that when we add more weakly stressed words or syllables to these sentences, we still say them in about the same length of time. We do this by saying all the weakly stressed words more quickly and quietly.
Question: Who works with Aaron?
Answers:
1 OO Ann, Jan.
2 OoO Ann and Jan.
3 OoooOo Annabelle and Janet. |
4 oOooooOo |
There’s Annabelle and there’s Tanet. |
5 ooOoooooOo |
Well there’s Annabelle and then there’s Janet. |
6 oooOoooooooOo |
Well first there’s Annabelle and then there’s also Janet. |
7 oooooOoooooooooOo |
Well first of all there’s Annabelle and then you know there’s also Janet. |
| (Note that although sometimes native speakers of English do speak like this with a lot of weakly stressed words, at other times they may use more strongly stressed words, e.g. 'Well, first of all there's Annabelle and then you know there’s also Janet.' Both are correct. Both have the same rhythm of strong and weak stress.) |
