08-17-0830

1000-hours/sounds-of-american-english-old/2.5.4-pace.md

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+# 2.5.4. 缓急（Pace）
+
+自然语音中，被强读的音节通常语速较慢，伴随着音高的变化、声调的不同，并且，其中的长元音读得够长，双元音读得够饱满。
+
+In natural speech, syllables that are emphasized tend to be spoken more slowly. They are often associated with changes in pitch, different tones, and the elongation of long vowels and diphthongs.
+
+与之相对的，另外一些音节会被轻读，它们常常会很轻很快，弄不好还会有大量的变音。
+
+In contrast, some syllables are pronounced more weakly. They are frequently very soft and quick, and if not done correctly, may have many variations in pronunciation.
+
+还是以这句话为例子：
+
+Let's still use this sentence as an example:
+
+> Community service is an important component of education *here at our uni*·**ver**·*sity*. We encourage all students to volunteer for at least one community activity before they graduate.
+
+<audio controls><source src="/audios/toefl-sampe-01.mp3" type="audio/mpeg">Your browser does not support the audio element.</source></audio>
+
+请仔细注意这一串音节：*here at our uni*·**ver**·*sity*... 它们原本应该被读作  <span class="pho alt">ˈhiə æt ɑʊə ˌjunəˈvəː(r)səti</span>…… 可你听到的是什么呢？<span class="pho">ˈ/hiə·(æ)t̬ɑ(ʊə)ˌjunə·ˈvəː(r)sət̬i/</span>（括号里的音素省略到几乎听不清）……
+
+Pay close attention to this string of syllables: *here at our uni*·**ver**·*sity*... They're supposed to be pronounced as <span class="pho alt">ˈhiə æt ɑʊə ˌjunəˈvəːsəti</span>, but what do you hear instead? <span class="pho">ˈ/hiə·(æ)t̬ɑ(ʊə)ˌjunə·ˈvəː(r)sət̬i/</span> (with vowel sounds in parentheses being nearly omitted)...
+
+> * *at* 被轻读成 <span class="pho alt">ət</span>，而其中的 <span class="pho">ə</span> 又几乎被省略掉了；
+> * *at* is de-emphasized to <span class="pho alt">ət</span> with the <span class="pho">ə</span> almost left out;
+> * 而 *our* 原本单独朗读的话，应该是 <span class="pho alt">ɑʊə</span>，却只变成了 <span class="pho alt">ɑ</span>；又由于这是美式发音（毕竟是 TOEFL 听力考试题），好像是多了个 <span class="pho">r</span>，所以是 <span class="pho alt">ɑr</span>；
+> * *our*, when pronounced alone, should be <span class="pho alt">ɑʊə</span>, but is reduced to <span class="pho alt">ɑ</span> or <span class="pho alt">ɑr</span> due to American pronunciation adding an <span class="pho">r</span>;
+> * *at* 中的 <span class="pho">t</span>，由于前后被两个元音夹着，所以变成了和 <span class="pho">d</span> 非常接近的 <span class="pho">t̬</span>；
+> * The <span class="pho">t</span> in *at*, sandwiched between two vowels, is pronounced similarly to <span class="pho">d</span>, becoming <span class="pho">t̬</span>;
+> * 为了把 *university* 中的长元音重读音节 <span class="pho alt">vəː</span> 读清楚，与前一个音节 <span class="pho alt">junə</span> 之间有个细微的停顿，而  <span class="pho alt">vəː</span>  读成了平调……
+> * To emphasize the stressed syllable <span class="pho alt">vəː</span> in *university*, there's a slight pause between it and the preceding syllable <span class="pho alt">junə</span>, and <span class="pho alt">vəː</span> is pronounced with a flat tone.
+
+关键在于，好听的语音是有节奏感的。该朗读者把 <span class="pho">ˈ/hiə·(æ)t̬ɑ(ʊə)ˌjunə</span> 放进了同一个节拍里，然后，下一个节拍从重音 <span class="pho">ˈvəː</span> 开始：<span class="pho">ˈ/hiə·(æ)t̬ɑ(ʊə)ˌjunə | ˈvəː(r)sət̬i/</span>……
+
+The key point is that attractive speech has *pace*. The speaker put <span class="pho">ˈ/hiə·(æ)t̬ɑ(ʊə)ˌjunə</span> into one beat, then started the next beat with the stressed syllable <span class="pho">ˈvəː</span>: <span class="pho">ˈ/hiə·(æ)t̬ɑ(ʊə)ˌjunə | ˈvəː(r)sət̬i/</span>...
+
+日常生活中，绝大多数人讲话并不会刻意在乎**节奏**，也常常感觉并无必要。但，总有一些人是训练有素的，比如，他们需要朗读、录音、演讲，甚至表演…… 于是，他们会有意无意地控制**节奏**。
+
+In everyday life, most people don't consciously pay attention to *pace* when speaking, nor do they feel the need to. But some people have trained to precisely control their *pace* when reading aloud, recording, giving speeches, or performing.
+
+这也是为什么绝大多数人在模仿外语录音的时候总是感觉心有余力不足的原因，首先因为他们忽视了**节奏**这个格外重要的因素。另外，他们忘了被模仿的语音，是训练有素且相当专业的声音，那甚至是质量极高难度极大的表演 —— 这更是提高了普通人模仿的难度。
+
+This is why most people find it challenging to imitate foreign language recordings accurately. First, they overlook the essential factor of *pace*. Plus, they forget that the speech they're trying to mimic is a professionally trained and high-quality performance, which raises the difficulty level of imitation.
+
+然而，说话的**节奏**，本质上来看，毕竟没多复杂，只不过是由**长短**和适当**停顿**构成的…… 再加上**高低起伏轻重**构成的**韵律**，就更好听了。
+
+However, the *rhythm* of speech isn't overly complex. It's essentially determined by the *length* of sounds and appropriate *stops* or  *pauses*... Add in the *prosody* created by variations in *pitch* and *stress*, and the speech becomes even more pleasant to the ear.