Exercise 8-3： Bit or Beat? CD 4 Track 17 录音下载
We've discussed intonation in terms of new information, contrast, opinion, and negatives. As you heard on p. 3, Americans tend to stretch out certain one-syllable words ... but which ones? The answer is simple—when a single syllable word ends in an unvoiced consonant, the vowel is on a single stairstep—short and sharp. When the word ends in a voiced consonant, or a vowel, the vowel is on a double stairstep. (For an explanation of voiced and unvoiced consonants, see page 62.) You can also think of this in terms of musical notes.
Here you are going to compare the four words bit, bid, beat, and bead. Once you can distinguish these four, all of the rest are easy. Repeat.
single double
tense beat bead
lax bit bid
Note You may hear tense vowels called long vowels, but this can cause confusion when you are talking about the long, or doubled vowel before a voiced consonant. Use the rubber band to distinguish: Make a short, sharp snap for the single note words (beat, bit) and a longer, stretched out loop for the double note words (bead, bid).
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