English Pronunciation Tip of the Day
Tip 170
Category:
Intonation
Author: JAM
It ain't what you say...
You probably know that repeated information does not usually receive the nucleus of the intonation pattern. So a sentence like:
He told me it cost five pounds | but actually it cost ten pounds
sounds very, very odd in English, although the equivalent sentence sounds perfectly acceptable in some other languages.
However...
It wasn't what he said | it was the way that he said it
is perfectly good in English. So it is possible to re-accent old information. The alternative pronunciation with the nucleus on way is just as good
However, and this is a real puzzle.....
It wasn't what she sang | it was the way that she sang it
is fine, but....
It wasn't what she sang | it was the way that she sang
is NOT!