1. What makes up our accents?
individual vowel and consonant sounds
word, phrase, and sentence stress > rhythm
focus in thought groups
linking of sounds, words, and phrases
reduced forms
intonation

2. Word, Phrase and Sentence Stress > Rhythm
0.6 sec.
Today I will go to the gym to work out.
0.6 sec.
Most men like cars.
From Rhythm and Unstress by Howard B. Woods

3. How do we know which words to stress?
Stress content words:
nouns / main verbs / adjectives / adverbs negatives / wh-words / interjections
Reduce or weaken function words:
articles / conjunctions / prepositions pronouns / auxiliary verbs

4. Content vs. Function Words
DA di di DA di di DA
Bill is in front of the room.
Ann is a way for the day.
Nice is a town by the sea.
A. Find the right matches:
a. di DA di Try to sleep.
b. di DA di di 2. You promised to phone.
c. di DA di DA 3. I'd like to help.
d. di DA di di DA 4. It's broken.
e. DA di DA 5. I stepped on it.
B. Create your own sentences with the same stress patterns as in a. thorough e. above.

5. Focus in Phrases (thought groups) and Sentences
A woman / without her man / is nothing A woman / without her / man is nothing.

6. Focus in Sentences and Phrases
One word or syllable in every phrase or sentence receives more stress or emphasis than the other. This word is the most prominent word in the phrase and is called the focus word. How do we create focus?
When a conversation begins or a topic is introduced, the focus is usually the last content word:
Where are you going? May I borrow the car?
If information is new or just introduced, focus shifts to the new piece of information:
Let's continue our discussion of pollution. Yesterday we defined pollution. Today we'll talk about the impact of pollution.
What's your favorite dessert? Ice cream...chocolate ice cream.

7. Read the following dialogues with the correct focus in each thought group.
A. I've got to study. Where've I put my book?
B. Which book?
A. My calculus book.
B. Try the bookcase.
A. The bookcase is full of your comic books.
B. Then look in the bedroom.
A. I've looked in the bedroom. I give up. This apartment is a mess! I can't find anything in this place.
B. Wait a minute. The book is right there in your hand.
A. When's the party? B. Which party?
A. The staff party. B. It's Tuesday night.
A. But there's a meeting on Tuesday night.
B. No. That's been postponed.

8. Practice using focus in thought groups: Read these excerpts from President Obama's State of the Union Address January 12, 2016, with good phrase stress in thought groups. THAT'S / the AMERica / I KNOW. THAT'S / the COUNtry / we LOVE. CLEAR-eyed. BIG-hearted. OptiMIStic / that unarmed TRUTH / and unconditional LOVE / will have the final WORD. That’s what makes me so HOPEful / about our FUture. Because of YOU. I beLIEVE in you. That’s why I stand here CONfident / that the State of our UNION / is STRONG. FIRST / how do we give EVERYone / a fair SHOT / at opportunity and seCURity / in this new eCONomy?
SEcond / how do we make technology work FOR us, and not aGAINST us? / especially when it comes to solving urgent CHALlenges / like CLImate change?
THIRD, how do we keep America SAFE / and lead the WORLD / without becoming its poLICEman?
And FINally, how can we make our politics reFLECT what’s BEST in us / and not what’s WORST?

9. The soccer game is this weekend.
Intonation
The soccer game is this weekend.
When? When?
I have to see Dr. Smith.
I have to see, Dr. Smith.

10. Reduced Forms
wanna gonna hafta
shoulda woulda coulda
Whaddaya Say?

11. Linking
Linking, or connecting the end of one word with the beginning of the next word helps give English its flow. Sometimes an entire sentence sounds like one word.
What do you want to do? sounds like Whadayawannado?
There are certain linking conventions English speakers observe that ESL students may not be aware of:
1) When the final consonant sound of one word and the first consonant sound of the next word are the same, the sound is lengthened or held, not pronounced twice.
at_twelve (hold the "t", but make the sound only once)
big_game / good_deal / class_schedule / he'll_look

12. 2) When the final sound is a consonant and the next word begins with a vowel sound, the consonant usually jumps to the next word. clean_up sounds like clea-nup
take_off sounds like ta-koff
drop_him_off sounds like dro-pi-moff 3) When the final sound is a stop consonant - /p/, /b/, /k/, /g/, /t/, /d/ - and the next word begins with a consonant, do not release the first stop consonant.
stop_sign (do not release /p/ ) / cab_driver / big_problem / lap_top_computer

13. 4) When /t/ is linked with /y/, the combined sound is "ch" as in "choose.”
Don't_you know?
Haven't you heard?
Can't_you go?
5) When /d/ is linked with /y/, the combined sound is "j" as in "juice."
Did_you know?
Would_you help?
I called_you.

14. Linking Sup? What’s up? Sko! Let’s go! Jeet? No, joo?
Did you eat? No, did you?
Ledder gedda bedder wädr heedr.
Let her get a better water heater.
Mad Gabs
Ask Rude Arrive Her
A screwdriver
Plea Sway Tube Ease Heated
Please wait to be seated.
Chick He Tub An An Us
Chiquita bananas