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Subject: Is it our high-fall or what?
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I found it. Here an English professor explains that a flat tone, slow tempo and emphasis on each word all make us sound angry. It is quite the opposite of what I (and Sjoe!) originally thought. The amazing thing is that none of these subtleties ever occured to me: the "uptalk" video does say that checking on the intonation is our last effort in mastering English. Johnstephenson, can I subscribe to your channel? |
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link 7.07.2020 18:32 |
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Well, if you repeat something, speaking more slowly and emphasising every word, it does make you sound more angry and impatient -- as though you're talking to someone who's rather stupid. I wouldn't say this was typical of Russians who speak English, though. Also I've never noticed Russians using "uptalk" -- it tends to be either Hollywood actresses, or actresses in (some) Australian soap operas. I don't have a channel -- but if this is the only aspect of English that you haven't yet mastered, you've probably nothing to worry about and are virtually a native English speaker. |
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link 7.07.2020 19:08 |
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Here's a humorous example of someone who, at times, talks slowly and stresses every word. It's the very impatient and sarcastic hotel-owner Basil Fawlty, from an episode of the 1970s BBC situation comedy Fawlty Towers. He's talking to an elderly guest (Mrs Richards) who's deaf, but also very domineering. She also mistakenly thinks he's called Mr Watt rather than Mr Fawlty. For an explanation of the background (if interested), go to the Russian Wikipedia (https://ru.wikipedia.org/wiki) and search for 'Башни Фолти (телесериал)'. For the clip itself, see: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tcliR8kAbzc Russians don't normally talk like that, do they....? |
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