Ms.Lujain -2013 Weak forms Chapter 10 Week 12 April.21.2013

Outline Why is it important to learn how weak forms are used? Ms.Lujain -2013 Outline Why is it important to learn how weak forms are used? Weak forms Vs. Contracted forms. Are they the same? Function words Are both forms used in function words? When do we use the strong form? words that are spelled with an initial ‘h’

Strong forms VS weak forms Ms.Lujain -2013 Strong forms VS weak forms Why is it important to learn how weak forms are used? 1- Most Native speakers of English find an “all-strong form” pronunciation unnatural and foreign-sounding. 2- Speakers who are not familiar with the use of weak forms are likely to have difficulty understanding speakers who do use weak forms.

WEAK FORMS VS. CONTRACTED FORMS Ms.Lujain -2013 WEAK FORMS VS. CONTRACTED FORMS ARE WEAK FORMS THE SAME AS CONTRACTED FORMS? NO.

Ms.Lujain -2013 Function Words Almost all words that have both a strong and weak form belong to a category called: Function Words Function Words: words that do not have a dictionary meaning in the way that we normally expect nouns, verbs, adjectives and adverbs to have. Such as auxiliary verbs, prepositions ..etc.

Are both forms used or only one? Ms.Lujain -2013 Are both forms used or only one? Sometimes the strong form is used and at other times we use the weak form. There are certain contexts in which only the strong form is acceptable and others where the weak form is the normal pronunciation.

When do we use the strong form? Ms.Lujain -2013 When do we use the strong form? For many weak-form words when they occur at the end of a sentence. When a weak-form word is being contrasted with another word. When a weak-form word is given stress for the purpose of emphasis. When a weak-form word is being “cited” or “quoted”.

Words that are spelled with an initial ‘h’ Ms.Lujain -2013 Words that are spelled with an initial ‘h’ When weak-form words whose spelling begins with ‘h’ (e.g. ‘her’, ‘have’) occur at the beginning of a sentence, the pronunciation is with initial /h/, even though this is usually omitted in other contexts.

Most common weak-form words: Ms.Lujain -2013 Most common weak-form words: The a , an and but That * than His * Her * Your * When used in a specific sense. Never occur at the end of a sentence

Pronouns do occur in their weak forms in their final position She He Ms.Lujain -2013 Pronouns She He We You Him Her Them us do occur in their weak forms in their final position

Some prepositions and other function words: Ms.Lujain -2013 Some prepositions and other function words: At For From Of To As Some there occur in their strong forms when they are final in a sentence

Auxiliary verbs: Can – could Ms.Lujain -2013 Auxiliary verbs: Can – could Have – has – had Shall – should Must Do – does Am – are – was – were in their negative forms (combined with not) they NEVER have the weak pronunciation. They also occur in their strong forms when they are final in a sentence.