比起汉语的字正腔圆,英语的语音语调更富有多样性。如果把汉语比作是中庸的士人,英语更像是穿着牛仔T恤的活泼青年。
汉语讲究喜怒不形于色,仅从语音语调判断,你是绝对不知道对方要骂你还是夸你。相比之下,英语就简单明了多了,爱憎分明,快意恩仇。
所以,会说姐经常和学英语的朋友说:词汇量不够,肢体语言来凑;肢体语言不够,语音语调来凑。
今天,我们一起把英语的语音语调做一次360°无死角大盘点,看看升调、降调、平调里的小秘密……
1
降调
用于陈述句
I have already read that book. ↘
That street is two miles long. ↘
用于特殊疑问句
What has happened to him? ↘
Which direction is it to the post office? ↘
注意:特殊疑问句有时可用升调表示请别人重复刚说过的话:
What is your major? ↗
Where shall we go for the holiday? ↗
用于命令祈使句
Go back to your seat! ↘
Please do not hesitate to contact me. ↘
用于感叹句
What a small world! ↘
Oh! My poor Mark, how you’ve changed! ↘
用于选择疑问句中“or”之后的部分
Do you want to ride or walk? ↘
Would you like coffee or tea? ↘
2
升调
用于一般疑问句
Do you mind if I sit here? ↗
Can you hand in your paper today? ↗
注意:一般疑问句有时也可用降调,表示一种不耐烦的口气,或表示命令等。
Are you satisfied? ↘
Will you take off your hat, please? ↘
用于罗列中最后一项之前的各项
For each incomplete sentence, there are four choices marked A↗, B↗, C↗, and D. ↘
We study Chinese ↗, history ↗, geography ↗, and English. ↘
用于陈述句表示疑问、怀疑、未定、猜测或期待时
You really want to do it? ↗
She might have gone. ↗
I think so. ↗
用于置于句首的状语短语或状语从句
After dinner ↗, I read a magazine and made telephone calls. ↘
While you were writing letters ↗, I was reading a book. ↘
用于并列句的第一个分句,表示句子还未说完
My fever is gone ↗, but I still have a cough. ↘
My major is English ↗, and I like it. ↘
用于委婉祈使句
Excuse me, sir ↗. Can you help me? ↗
用于称呼语
Mrs. Smith ↗, this is Tom Jones. ↘
3
平调
用于直接引语后,表示话是谁说的
“We are going to Florida,” she said brightly. →
“How do you feel, boy?” I asked him. →