英语语调的意义(在线收听

   语调(intonation),即说话的腔调,就是一句话里声调(pitch)高低抑扬轻重的配制和变化。世界上没有一种语言是用单一的声调说出的,以英语为例,英语有五种基本语调:升调(?)、降调(?)、升降调(∧)、降升调(∨)以及平调(→)。一句话除了词汇意义(lexical meaning)还有语调意义(intonation meaning)。所谓词汇意义就是话中所用词的意义,而语调意义就是说话人用语调所表示的态度或口气。一句话的词汇意义加上语调意义才算是完全的意义。同样的句子,语调不同,意思就会不同,有时甚至会相差千里。请看下例:

  1)A:Jean,can you bring me the newspaper?
  B:Sorry?(?)
  Jean用升调说“Sorry”,其意思是“I didn't hear you.Could you say that again,please?”
  我们再看下句:
  2)A:Jean,can you bring me the newspaper?
  B:Sorry.(?)
  在对话2)中,Jean用降调说“Sorry”,显然其意思是拒绝帮助或无能为力。
  美国著名语言学家Kenneth L.Pike认为:
  一个音节的绝对调高是不重要的,而一个音节与另外一个的相对高度才是非常重要的。
  英语有四级能区别意义的调高:
  1)特高调(extra high),即比正常的声调高两级,常在感情特别激动或惊讶时使用。
  2)高调(high),即比正常的声调高一级,一般用于语句中关键性的重读词。
  3)中调(mid),即说话人声音的正常高度。
  4)低调(low),即比正常的声调低一级,
  一般是降调的最低点。
  应该按照说话人的态度来分语调模式,而不能按照句子的语法结构来分。没有所谓“疑问句的语调”或“陈述句的语调”。因为疑问句和陈述句都可以用各种语调模式来说。
  因此,对于我们中国的英语学习者来说,通过了解某种调型所表示的某种态度或口气也就颇为重要。事实上,无论是在现实生活中还是在考试中,我们的学生常会因为对这些知识缺乏了解而无法确定说话人的态度、的感情、的口吻和意图等。然而这又是一个比较复杂的问题。本文将通过具体的例子从两方面来说明这个问题:
  I.一句话中绝对调高及音调的相对高度所包含的意义
  众所周知,人们在兴奋、的惊讶或感情激动时说话的语调就高,而在相反的情况下,语调则低。因此,在同一个场合中,如果一个人的语调明显高于另一个,或明显低于另一个,以此就可以推断出该说话人的意思及态度。
  这里我们要着重谈谈一句话中语调的相对高度的不同所包含的意义。一句话中的语调波峰一般都是句重音所在。通过一句话中的语调波峰所在,我们就可以了解说话人的意思。如人们读“I live in the city.”这句话时,由于强调的对象不同,语调也就随之发生了变化。现不妨比较如下:
  I(?)live in the city.(隐含着在场的其他人不住在城里的意思)
  I live(?)in the city.(表示“我”只是“住在”城里,其隐含的意思是“我不在城里工作”或其他意思)
  I live in(?)the city.(表示“我住在城里边”,其隐含的意思是”我不住在城外“)
  因此,对下面的对话所提问的问题进行选择时,就不难回答了。
  3)M:Linda looked very tired these days.
  W:She looked OK to me(?).
  Q:What does the woman think of Linda?(D)
  [A]She saw Linda and me.
  [B]Linda said she was fine.
  [C]She looked up the word for me.
  [D]She considered Linda was all right.
  这句话里的句重音碰巧落在句子的最后一个单词“me”上。因为女士用升调重读“me”,这表示了女士有意与男士的看法形成对比,意思是:在你的眼里,她显得疲惫,可在我看来,她没什么问题。这表示了她那种无所谓的态度。
  II.某些句型由于句尾语调的改变而引起意义改变的现象
  1.使用疑问词who, which, what, how, when, where, why的特殊疑问句可以用降调也可以用升调,但含义是不同的。如:
  4)A:Mr.Smith thinks we ought to get the money in hand first.
  B:Who?(?)
  A:Mr.Smith.
  B用升调说“Who”,表示听不清对方谈话中的某一部分,要求对方再重复那一部分。
  5)A:We'd like to have someone to say a word at the beginning to welcome the group.
  B:Who?(?)
  A:We thought that you or Dr.Johnson might do it.
  B用降调说“Who”,其意思是问,对方想让谁在开场时致欢迎词。
  2.附加疑问句可以读升调也可以读降调,意思是不相同的。降调表示发问者相信陈述句的内容,只等对方证实。升调表示发问者对陈述句内容的真实性没有把握,希望对方作出自己的判断。如:
  6)A:You willfinish the work,won't you?(?)
  B:Yes,I will.
  A用降调提问,意思是:I know you will finish the work,but I want you to confirm it.
  7)A:You willfinish the work,won'tyou?(?)
  B:Yes,I will.(或No,I won't.)
  A用升调提问,表示A心中没有把握,因此,得到的回答既可能是肯定的,也可能是否定的。因此,如果听到下面的对话并就所提问题进行选择时,哪个选项正确也就不言而喻了。
  8)W:Mary says she likes playing tennis.
  M:But she doesn't play tennis often,does she?(?)
  Q:Whatdoesthe man imply about Mary?(B)
  [A]She plays a lot of other sports.
  [B]She doesn't really like tennis.
  [C]She only likes watching tennis.
  [D]She has a lot of things to do.
  3.语调可以反应谈话人的互动性。如:
  9)A:Are you Mr.Blake?
  B:Yes.(?)
  A:Room twenty-six.
  在这个例子中,B用降调说“Yes”,表示B的认可,这是一个封闭式的回答,这表明如果A没有新的问题要问或新的信息要告知,也许他们的对话就可以结束了。
  10)A:Are you Mr.Blake?
  B:Yes?(?)
  A:Ah,the secretary would like a word with you.
  在这个例子中,B用升调回答“Yes”,表示这是一个开放式的回答,相当于:“Yes. But why do you ask?”或是“Yes.But who want to know?”之意。这也就是说,B在回答A的问题的同时又向A提出了一个新问题,并要求A予以回答。
  掌握了这一点之后,对于下面的对话所提问的问题,就不难回答了。
  11)M:How long shall we stay at the Grand Canyon?
  W:A day?(?)
  Q:What does the woman mean?(B)
  [A]We shall stay at the Grand Canyon for one day.
  [B]Shall we stay at the Grand Canyon for one day?
  [C]To stay at the Grand Canyon for one day is too short.
  [D]To stay at the Grand Canyon for one day is enough.
  4.陈述句式一般读降调,用以陈述事实。若读升调,往往表示对所说事情的怀疑。如:
  She lent him her car.(?)(用以陈述事实)
  She lent him her car?(?)(表示惊奇、的怀疑,含有“Did she really lend her car to him ?”之意。)
  再请看下面的试题:
  12)M:I started driving at 8:00yesterday and arrived here at 5:30 this morning.
  W:You drove all night?(?)
  Q:What does the woman mean?
  [A]Night driving can be dangerous.
  [B]You shouldn't have driven during the night.
  [C]Why don't you drive all night?
  [D]Did you really drive all night?
  答案为D。
  5.有些一般疑问句的句式读作降调,实际上表示感叹。如:Hasn't she grown!(?)这句话实则表示:她长得多快!
  请看下面的试题:
  13)M:Wasn't Sam's speech great!(?)
  W:Are you serious?
  Q:What does the man say about Sam's speech?
  [A]Sam's speech wasn't great,was it?
  [B]Sam's speech was great,wasn't it?
  [C]Sam gave a serious speech.
  [D]Sam was not serious.
  答案为B。
  这里顺便说一下,问句不表示疑问的另一种情况:当一方提出一个问题,而另一方用问句作为回答时,这个问句有时是不需要回答的,而实际上相当于陈述句,但别有意味。如:
  14)A:Are you going to watch TV again?
  B:What else is there to do?(?)
  B反问A一个问题“What else is there to do?”,意思是:(除了看电视)还有什么好干的呢?
  因此,对下面的问题就不难回答了。
  15)M:Do you think Petty is qualified to do the job?
  W:If Petty is not,who is?(?)
  Q:What does the woman mean?(C)
  [A]Petty is not qualified for the job.
  [B]Nobody is qualified for the job.
  [C]Petty is well qualified for the job.
  [D]Allexcept Petty are qualified for the job.
  有些一般疑问句句式也不需要回答,其功能也相当于陈述句,但肯定结构表否定,否定结构表肯定,而且传递了说话人浓烈的情绪。如:
  16)W:Haven't you got anything better to do?(?)
  M:Ok,Mum ,I'll turn off the TV and begin to do my homework.
  显然,妈妈的意思是责备儿子不应该看电视,而应该做比看电视更有益的事--也就是说,妈妈认为儿子有更好的事可做。而对话中,儿子当然也明白妈妈的意思,因此说要关掉电视,开始做功课。再如:
  17)M:I've observed you for ten minutes.What have you been doing?
  W:Are you blind?(?)
  Q:What can be inferred about the woman's attitude toward the man?(B)
  [A]Polite.
  [B]Unfriendly.
  [C]Indifferent.
  [D]Cautious.
  女士用肯定结构的一般疑问句说“Are you blind?”,意思是说“你不是瞎子,难道看不见吗?”故而可知,女士不太友善。
  总而言之,只要英语学习者内心树立了对语调的重视意识,培养起敏感的感知能力和反应能力,经过多年的英语学习和积累,再加上我们从母语中获得的语调知识,我们肯定能成功应付语调的问题。而在听力考试中,除了我们能听得到的说话人的语音特征,如语速、的绝对调高、的语调范围及语调之外,辅之以词汇意义、的上下文线索、的四个选项所圈定的范围等,选出正确的选项应该不是一个困难的问题。
  原文地址:http://www.tingroom.com/listen/essay/167399.html